Chocs away: Belgian chocolate added to Brussels Region’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List

Belgium’s long-standing tradition and expertise for producing quality chocolate are now included in the Brussels-Capital Region's Intangible Cultural Heritage inventory, local authorities and industry professionals have announced.

Chocolate craft has become the 22nd addition to Brussels' identity, folklore and culture, according to local media.

Belgium’s capital is the first of the three regions to take this initiative. In order to be eligible to apply for the prestigious Unesco cultural heritage listing, Wallonia and Flanders will need to follow suit.

Naturally, the Brussels Region, City of Brussels and local chocolate industry are hoping the neighbouring regions will support their action.

The country has long been touted as a world capital for cocoa treats, with the average Belgian consuming seven kilos of chocolate per year.

Brussels is also the birthplace of the luxury individual chocolates known as ‘pralines’ and their packaging in a ‘ballotin’. Both were created by the Neuhaus family, which founded  its pharmacy-confectionery in Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert in 1857.

The capital boasts more than 200 chocolate shops and this latest initiative aims to boost the confectionary sector across the country.

“It's important to be able to attract talent,” said Philippe de Selliers, chair of the Beyond Chocolate committee, which hopes to ensure the viability of the sector. “We are constantly looking for qualified personnel for a sector that represents an annual turnover of €8 billion, including €5.5 billion from exports,” he added.

De Selliers also underlined the focus on sustainability. “We must continue to innovate to remain what we are: the best... Our goal is to be 100% sustainable.”

Photo: Chocolaterie Mary ©visit.brussels/Jean-Paul Remy