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Neuhaus Chocolates | Finest Belgian Chocolates I spend a lot of time in Munich's city center, partly because there's always something new to discover, including shops you might have overlooked in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. One place you absolutely shouldn't miss is "Neuhaus," or rather, "Neuhaus – Brussels 1857." The name says it all: the Neuhaus brand comes from Belgium. They've specialized in the finest chocolates since 1857. But not just any chocolates—they're arguably the highest quality and finest Belgian chocolates available. Made exclusively and 100% from the best and highest-quality ingredients, produced entirely in Belgium—no matter where in the world you buy and enjoy them. I'm now definitely one of the many Neuhaus fans and have visited their Munich store on Theatinerstrasse more than once. If you don't yet know Neuhaus and love chocolate as much as quality, you'll do the same. But what makes Neuhaus so special?

The gallery

An insight into the history of Neuhaus

This year's 160th anniversary of Neuhaus is the perfect opportunity to take a "behind-the-scenes" look. As you, my readers, know, I generally love doing that. If we could travel back in time exactly 160 years, we would probably be looking over the shoulder of Jean Neuhaus, the former pharmacist and company founder, as he pondered his medicines, trying to figure out how to make them more palatable. He opened his pharmacy in 1857 in the magnificent Galerie de la Reine in Brussels. After much experimentation, Jean Neuhaus decided to coat his medicines in chocolate to make them more marketable. The first step towards "Neuhaus Pralines" had been taken. His grandson, Jean Neuhaus II, inherited the passion for chocolate and replaced the bitter medicine with delicious fillings. In doing so, he invented the Belgian praline in 1912. It was only natural that, from generation to generation, more and more members of the Neuhaus family shaped the history of the praline, and Neuhaus became increasingly well-known. Over the years, the Belgian company became synonymous with the finest Belgian pralines – far beyond the borders of Belgium. This image endures to this day and is confirmed the very first time you taste a Neuhaus praline – in my case, in Munich.

Neuhaus in Munich

What makes Neuhaus chocolates special?

„When broken down into its individual components, every Neuhaus praline relies on a crucial element: the ingredients, their origin and quality, the craftsmanship itself, as well as the entire surrounding experience (packaging, presentation, the shopping experience, the visit to the store, and of course, the taste). When everything is just right, the result is pure indulgence. A few facts about the production process hint at why these pralines stand out so clearly from others and what makes Neuhaus pralines so special.

It all begins with the right raw materials for each praline recipe. At Neuhaus, it can easily take two years before a recipe is considered "fully developed." Only the finest ingredients – selected for their origin, quality, and flavor – are used. For example, the most important component, the couverture, contains only the finest cocoa butter pressed directly from the cocoa bean, and all other ingredients are of the highest quality. A closer look at the selection and sourcing of the various types of nuts used should shed some light on this: The hazelnuts come primarily from Piedmont in Italy and the Turkish Black Sea region; the almonds, which are sorted, cleaned, and inspected by hand before use, come from California and Portugal; the high-quality walnuts from Périgord in France, the pecans from the USA, and the pistachios from Asia and Iran.

Most Neuhaus chocolates have always been lovingly handcrafted according to the original recipe. The exact chocolate recipe itself is, of course, a secret.

The History Collection

The chocolates

As mentioned, they are all produced exclusively in Belgium, in a wide variety of styles and shapes with diverse fillings. Neuhaus's "jewel" is likely the praline. „"Caprice"“ It is a praline created in 1958 for the Brussels World's Fair by Adelson and Pierre de Gavre, the son-in-law of Jean Neuhaus II. It stands out due to its distinctive shape and consists of a praline shell filled with the finest vanilla buttercream and thickly coated in delicious dark chocolate. The twin praline shares the same history. „Tentation“, in the same shape, filled with a creamy coffee ganache and coated in milk chocolate. As I have personally experienced, very delicious with an interesting texture. Then, in 2010, for the Shanghai World Expo, 50 years later, the pralines were „Désir“, „Pleasure“ and „"Seduction"“ born. Together, these five chocolates form the collection. „Irresistibles“ And so it continued. To date, over 70 different creations and several collections have been developed. Besides the "Jean" and "Louise" pralines, the "Cornet Doré" praline is also worth mentioning – a delicate golden crescent filled with a gianduja (creamy hazelnut-cocoa mixture) – which is among the top three Neuhaus pralines worldwide. (It is also available in a version with many Piedmont hazelnuts as...) „Cornet Caramel & Crunchy“.

Listing all the combinations would be far too much. However, I can promise you that there are some truly wonderful creations among them. If you can't decide which one to try first, or what you might like, one of the fantastic collections containing a wide variety of chocolates, including limited editions, is probably the best option.

Collections, special editions and more.

In addition to the chocolates, which can be purchased individually in Neuhaus shops, various collections are also offered. Here, too, Neuhaus demonstrates with constantly evolving ideas the high value placed on quality combined with exclusivity and indulgence. Numerous chefs, pastry chefs, artists, and renowned Belgian names have already created chocolates for and with Neuhaus.

A classic among the permanent collections is, for example, the elegantly packaged turquoise and gold one. „"History Collection"“, which tells the interesting Neuhaus family and company history in 14 different chocolates (2 layers, a total of 28 chocolates) (these include, for example, the aforementioned chocolates "Caprice", "Tentation", and "Cornet Doré"). Also exclusive: The „Haute Pâtisserie“ collection“, which takes you on a culinary journey of discovery through pralines created by nine international head pastry chefs. Surprising, traditional, and local flavors have been combined into exciting creations. This contrasts with the restaurant guide "Gault & Millau," which, together with Neuhaus, is responsible for the Sommelier Collection„ He selected chocolates that pair perfectly with alcoholic beverages. These also include the... Magritte Collections„ (based on the Belgian artist and exhibitor), „Vintage Ballotin“, which honors the invention of the ballotine in 1915 by Louise Agostini (wife of the founder); the "Champagne" Collection„ – self-explanatory – and various seasonal collections. Neuhaus releases two of these annually (Summer collection and winter collection) which are only available for a limited time.

World's Top Chefs Collection

One of my personal favorites, and one I've personally tasted, is the current "World's Top Chefs" collection. With chocolates, the packaging is usually rather secondary for the recipient. However, the presentation of this collection of 27 chocolates is sure to impress. Nine world-renowned chefs/pastry chefs have each created an exclusive chocolate for Neuhaus. Each contributor showcases a cherished childhood memory with three different chocolates and their recipes. The chic yellow packaging includes creations with almond, hazelnut, and coconut, as well as combinations with speculoos, lemon, green tea, coffee, or strawberry – some with dark chocolate, others with pure milk chocolate. (So, if you want to make my day… ;-))

Hard facts and personal information

There's still so much to tell about Neuhaus. No wonder, with 160 years of company and culinary history. Over the coming months, I'll be sharing my Neuhaus visits with you, showing you new, traditional, delicious, and exquisite products. Neuhaus is available in 40 countries worldwide with over 1,500 retail outlets. Once again, I've learned that quality is something you can taste, and even the most casual observer can tell that Neuhaus knows how to make excellent chocolates. This is evident not only in every single recipe but also in the perfection of the smallest details. Of course, there are many good chocolates out there, but what makes them truly unique? Even more than that, what makes them so special that even the Belgian Royal Court is captivated by Neuhaus chocolates, and they're in demand all over the world? I now understand this a little better, and I hope you do too. And believe it or not: I have some in my kitchen and I'm going to get one now…

Contact for inquiries – Neuhaus Chocolates

Neuhaus – Brussels 1857 | Munich: Theatinerstraße 3, 80333 Munich
Online shop & website
Opening hours (Munich): Monday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Contact via telephone: 089 224 177