{"id":2205,"date":"2026-10-28T11:14:43","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T11:14:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/private-group-chocolate-workshops-bruges\/"},"modified":"2026-10-29T08:16:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T08:16:08","slug":"types-of-belgian-chocolate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/nl\/types-of-belgian-chocolate\/","title":{"rendered":"Types of Belgian Chocolate You Can Make: Pralines, Mendiants, Chocolate Bars &#038; Tasting"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Belgium is famous for its chocolate, and in our workshops in Bruges you don&#8217;t just taste it, you make it yourself. Here is a short introduction to the four types of chocolate we work with, so you can choose what you would like to make.<\/p>\n<h2>1. Pralines<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"493\" height=\"660\" src=\"https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/belgian-pralines-gold-box-bruges.webp\" alt=\"Handmade Belgian pralines in a gold box by a canal window in Bruges\" class=\"wp-image-2211\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:8px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/belgian-pralines-gold-box-bruges.webp 493w, https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/belgian-pralines-gold-box-bruges-224x300.webp 224w, https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/belgian-pralines-gold-box-bruges-9x12.webp 9w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 493px) 100vw, 493px\" \/><figcaption>Belgian pralines: a thin chocolate shell with a soft filling.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The praline is the icon of Belgian chocolate. It was invented in Brussels in 1912 by Jean Neuhaus, who had the idea to fill a chocolate shell with a soft centre. A praline has two parts: a <strong>thin, crisp shell<\/strong> of tempered chocolate and a <strong>filling<\/strong> inside.<\/p>\n<p>The fillings make every praline different. Popular choices are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Nuts<\/strong> \u2013 hazelnut or almond paste (pralin\u00e9), crunchy and rich<\/li>\n<li><strong>Caramel<\/strong> \u2013 soft, sweet and slightly salty<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ganache<\/strong> \u2013 chocolate mixed with cream, smooth and melting<\/li>\n<li><strong>Flavoured syrups<\/strong> \u2013 fruity or aromatic touches such as raspberry or coffee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In our praline workshop you learn to temper chocolate, make the shells in moulds, fill them and close them \u2013 just like a chocolatier.<\/p>\n<h2>2. Mendiants<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"493\" height=\"660\" src=\"https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/chocolate-mendiants-gold-box-bruges.webp\" alt=\"Handmade chocolate mendiants with nuts and dried fruit in a gold box, Bruges\" class=\"wp-image-2212\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:8px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/chocolate-mendiants-gold-box-bruges.webp 493w, https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/chocolate-mendiants-gold-box-bruges-224x300.webp 224w, https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/chocolate-mendiants-gold-box-bruges-9x12.webp 9w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 493px) 100vw, 493px\" \/><figcaption>Mendiants: chocolate discs topped with nuts and dried fruit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Mendiants are small, flat discs of chocolate decorated with <strong>nuts, dried fruit and seeds<\/strong>. They come from France, where they were traditionally made at Christmas. The name means &#8220;beggars&#8221;: the four original toppings \u2013 almonds, hazelnuts, raisins and dried figs \u2013 matched the colours of the robes of four religious orders.<\/p>\n<p>Today you can top them with anything you like: pistachios, cranberries, orange peel, coconut or sea salt. Mendiants are easy and quick to make, and every one looks different, so they are perfect for creative people of all ages.<\/p>\n<h2>3. Chocolate bars<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"493\" height=\"660\" src=\"https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/belgian-chocolate-bar-nuts-bruges.webp\" alt=\"Handmade Belgian chocolate bar topped with nuts and dried fruit, Bruges canal view\" class=\"wp-image-2213\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:8px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/belgian-chocolate-bar-nuts-bruges.webp 493w, https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/belgian-chocolate-bar-nuts-bruges-224x300.webp 224w, https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/belgian-chocolate-bar-nuts-bruges-9x12.webp 9w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 493px) 100vw, 493px\" \/><figcaption>A handmade Belgian chocolate bar with nuts and dried fruit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The chocolate bar (or tablet) is the classic way to enjoy chocolate. A good bar starts with <strong>well-tempered chocolate<\/strong>: this gives it a glossy shine and a clean &#8220;snap&#8221; when you break it.<\/p>\n<p>You can make a bar with <strong>dark, milk or white chocolate<\/strong>, and finish the top with your own decorations, such as nuts, dried fruit, crispy pieces or colourful sprinkles. It is a simple and fun way to create a personal souvenir from Bruges.<\/p>\n<h2>4. Chocolate tasting<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"660\" height=\"493\" src=\"https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/chocolate-tasting-pralines-notes.webp\" alt=\"Chocolate tasting with pralines and tasting notes\" class=\"wp-image-2214\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:8px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/chocolate-tasting-pralines-notes.webp 660w, https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/chocolate-tasting-pralines-notes-300x224.webp 300w, https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/chocolate-tasting-pralines-notes-16x12.webp 16w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><figcaption>Comparing different pralines and chocolates in a tasting.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Not all chocolate tastes the same. In a tasting you compare different types side by side and learn what makes them unique:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Dark chocolate<\/strong> \u2013 a high percentage of cocoa, less sugar, an intense and sometimes fruity or bitter taste<\/li>\n<li><strong>Milk chocolate<\/strong> \u2013 cocoa with milk powder, creamy and sweet; the favourite of most people<\/li>\n<li><strong>White chocolate<\/strong> \u2013 made with cocoa butter, milk and sugar, very sweet with vanilla notes<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ruby chocolate<\/strong> \u2013 the newest type, naturally pink with a fresh, berry-like taste<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Tasting slowly \u2013 look, smell, snap, then let it melt on your tongue \u2013 helps you discover flavours you never noticed before.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#2b1a12;color:#fff;border-radius:12px;padding:28px 24px;text-align:center;margin:32px 0\">\n<h2 style=\"color:#fff;margin-top:0\">Book your praline workshop in Bruges<\/h2>\n<p style=\"color:#f3e6d8\">Make your own handmade Belgian pralines with a chocolatier, finish them with edible gold, and take home your box of chocolates. Includes a cup of hot chocolate.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/nl\/product\/belgian-chocolate-workshop-in-bruges\/\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#c9a24a;color:#2b1a12;font-weight:700;padding:14px 28px;border-radius:8px;text-decoration:none\">Book your praline workshop<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"color:#f3e6d8;font-size:0.95em;margin-bottom:0\">Coming with a group? See our <a href=\"https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/nl\/groups-and-private-workshop\/\" style=\"color:#c9a24a\">private and group workshops<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An introduction to pralines, mendiants, chocolate bars and chocolate tasting \u2013 the four types of Belgian chocolate you can make and taste at our workshops in Bruges.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":2211,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"bc_lang":"","bc_group":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,47,65],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2205","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bruges-travel-guide","category-chocolate-workshops","category-bruges-food-chocolate"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2205","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/62"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2205"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2205\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2216,"href":"https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2205\/revisions\/2216"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2205"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2205"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgianchocola.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2205"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}