Chic Et Choc

Anyone else noticed that chocolate has become seriously chic of late? As if it’s not enough to sell the finest sustainably-produced, epicure-quality gourmet bars and truffles, chocolatiers seem to have upped the ante and created couture-style packaging that’s every bit as delectable as their sweet treats…

A recent discovery is Marou; a range of single origin artisan chocolates from Vietnam. Did you even know that chocolate existed in Vietnam? Available at Fortnum & Mason (but of course!), the jewel-toned Art Deco-inspired packaging is just lovely. And the chocolate bars are just as decadent, flavoured with subtle hints of exotic spice. If ever there were a chocolate that you might be tempted to NOT unwrap, this is it.

Prestat‘s distinctive fuschia and gold wrappings have had us drooling for quite some time now - before we even begin to mention the British brand’s equally drool-worthy selection of flavours. Earl Grey, salted caramel or chilli and lime anyone? It’s quite nice to think that Prestat supply Her Majesty Queen Liz with chocs too. Would you like a truffle Phillip?

According to her website, Paris-based Marie Bouvero ’loves to decorate her gourmet products in the same way as our great couturiers decorate their creations, to accentuate the pleasure of giving’. So when you buy one of her très chic Pinup bars - packaged in a wrapper printed with polka dots and vintage prints of the glamour girls of yesteryear - you can be sure that you’ll feel extra special.

And let’s not forget the Mast Brothers. Operating out of hipster central, the Brooklyn-based chocolatiers source their ingredients from small farms and co-operatives around the world, and all of the bars contain just cacao and sugar - that’s it. Each bar is presented in smart, wallpaper-inspired wrapping which is created by the brand’s own in-house creatives.

Also worth mentioning are Booja Booja‘s exquisite floral boxes and Askinosie‘s inspired retro-style brown paper packaging. You are what you eat - or so they say…