All About Richart Chocolate

In 1925 the Richart Chocolate tradition began in Lyon, France. Today Richart Chocolate operate more than a dozen boutiques across Europe, U.S. and Tokyo. Richart's range is vast. The first time you indulge in a ballotin of Richart Chocolates; you'll find the petits (chocolates) hidden beneath an inscribed chocolate plaque. In the case of the Envol ballotin; you'll be faced with some 49 luscious cubes decorated with hand-applied cocoa butter designs each one with a tiny work of art, pleasing to both eye and palate.

The precocious petits are sometimes esoteric, frequently exotic and always exquisite. They are made with the fine (and expensive) Venezuelan criollo cocoa-difficult to grow but worth the price for its rich, mild flavor. Fortunately, the ballotin is escorted by a compact manual entitled le petit livre blanc du chocolat: passion, pleasure, tasting and sharing. Richart Chocolate contains all of the explanation, instruction and background necessary to navigate this French chocolate adventure.

The Envol Chocolate assortment contains seven varietals. The Balsamics are noteworthy for their cocoa-based ganache fillings including Haiti Cocoa Ganache, Venezuelan Cocoa Ganache and, to shake things up a little, Licorice Ganache. The Citrus family includes sparkling flavors like Kumquat Coulis, and Grapefruit Ganache. Floral’s such as Ylang Ylang and Lavender are heady and romantic, while the basic Fruity petits are straightforward but exciting (Passion fruit, chestnut, apricot, prune...). Both Herbal and Spiced varieties of chocolate are sensuous, mysterious and a bit provocative: Anise and Fennel Ganache, Curry Praline, Jasmine Tea Ganache. Aromatic and buttery Roasted petits are filled with pralines of Hazelnut, or Almond, rounded out by a Coffee Ganache.

There's also a New Children's Design Collection featuring children's artwork on the petits, using more restrained fillings. Richart sell sublime Marrons Glacés and Pâte de fruits in smart combinations like Morello Cherry/Verbena and Apricot lime. And, for a mere $675 you can acquire a Burl Wood Chocolate Vault stacked with an extravagant Richart collection.

For Valentine's Day, Richart offers A Week of Passion (seven boxes, each containing four filled chocolate hearts) or the more expansive Caresse, and Tendresse assortments. Likewise, there are special seasonal and holiday collections throughout the year. You'll pay dearly for anything Richart, but this is the haute couture of Richart Chocolate.