At the mention of chocolate, each person represents a holiday, smiles, childhood and feels an amazing aroma and taste.
Figured chocolate is an indispensable attribute on any holiday. A fragrant product in the form of Santa Claus, a bunny, an angel or a heart will be an excellent gift for a child, relative, loved one, or acquaintance. This is not only an original surprise, but also universal. It is suitable for a birthday, a wedding, a date, and just to express his appreciation and love.
Appearance story
The prototype of figured - tiled chocolate appeared in 1659 thanks to David Shayu, who opened the factory. Since that time, the production of chocolate began to develop rapidly: it was added to confectionery and produced new varieties, having established mass production. However, in the XVII century they still could not shape, therefore it is impossible to say with certainty that it was figured chocolate.
Important Name - Franz Stolwerk
For the first time, figured chocolate was made by the German manufacturer Franz Stolwerk. He opened a factory that initially specialized in cough drops. Thanks to Heinrich Stolwerk, the founder’s son, the production of chocolate was not manual, but mechanized: steam engines, giant furnaces and five-roll machines for grinding the mass appeared. Franz first remade gingerbread boards to use for casting. However, figured chocolate was then a variation of the tiles.
Franz Stolwerk paid due attention to advertising. He disseminated information not only in newspapers, but also in trains, on ships, using a plate with color images. For that time it was a successful and innovative advertisement. Particular attention was paid to confectionery packaging and decoration of stores. One of the innovations of the German manufacturer is a chocolate vending machine, which appeared in 1880. They had an exquisite look, a mirror, a clock and a barometer.
Since 1840, Berwaerts in Belgium began to give various forms to dark chocolate. This is the first company that has made the production of figured delicacies to a new level.
For the first time in 1870, Henry Nestle made a bar of milk chocolate. Instead of bitterness, a creamy sweet taste appeared. Over time, various recipes and the latest technology brought the taste sensations to perfection. Since that time, the figures were made not only from the black variety, but also from the dairy, the forms became original, making chocolate figured a work of art.
Main forms
Shapes of curly chocolate are different. For their manufacture, split molds are used. They consist of two or more parts.
The range of masters is expanding. On sale there are both hollow figures, and cast, with a stuffing. Here are some examples:
- figures of animals, plants, coins and medals;
- chocolate bottles with alcohol;
- figurines of the bride and groom, swans for the wedding cake;
- Easter bunnies, Santas, hearts and angels;
- souvenir products, which is a symbol of the city or company logo:
- a set of figured chocolate: chess, coffee set, wine glasses, a cup with a spoon;
- large-scale multi-colored compositions of chocolate.
Portrait of a man - an original gift
An interesting gift is chocolate with a portrait of a man. For this, food coloring is used. Masters transfer not only portraits, but also whole pictures to the basis of chocolate.
Scientists claim that the use of this product favorably affects the brain, stimulates memory and improves performance.
Figured chocolate remains a delicacy and brings, first of all, pleasure, and then benefits. The formulation of its manufacture is modified and supplemented, technology is invented, but the taste of the product remains unchanged.