Nowadays, Belgian chocolate is fêted across the globe, while Brussels has long established itself as the chocolate capital of the world. The mere mention of the word “chocolate” is enough to get taste buds tingling!

For our parents and grandparents, names such as Victoria, Aiglon, Côte d’Or and Jacques (some now consigned to the history books) are laden with nostalgia, conjuring up childhood memories of bygone generations. But how did Belgian chocolate come to be so celebrated and what role did the Congo play in carving out its reputation? In a bid to separate myth from reality, we will take a look back at decades of mouth-watering chocolate history.