Think about the best piece of chocolate to ever pass between your lips. Was it smooth and creamy? Or perhaps a little crunchy with a hint of raspberry? Maybe it had an unusual or distinctive shape. How about the wrapper? Chances are you may not remember that last little detail, but today’s chocolate manufacturers want you to. And they are becoming more creative in their packaging efforts. The experience of luxury chocolates is no longer limited to the aroma and taste, but also to the presentation.
With an eye towards art, the succulent, pure chocolate “Labooko” bars created by Austrian chocolate maker, Josef Zotter, feature wrappers specially designed by artist, Andreas Gratze. The first design for their chocolates was drawn up nearly 20 years ago when Gratze invented a small devil that can still be found on the cover of “For Rascals.” Since then, Gratze tries to reflect the taste of each Zotter chocolate bar in his wrapper designs. For example, he thinks about how celery would feel being paired with port wine for Zotter’s Celery, Truffle and Port Wine bar or how black tea and lemon are going to interact with Zotter’s Black Tea with Lemon bar.
Personalized chocolate wrappers are immensely popular because of their versatility and uniqueness that allows people to leave a lasting and tasteful impression. They have hundreds of uses that can be sentimental, humorous, or refined. Celebrations such as birthdays, weddings, and bar mitzvahs are frequently commemorated with decorative wrappers on small pieces of chocolate to be used as place cards, party favors, or thank you notes. Businesses also use personalized chocolate wrappers as promotional tools such as business cards, coupons, or special announcements like the ones found at Chocolate Covers. “A photo on a candy bar is more memorable than one in the phone book,” their website advertises.
Environmentalists have also jumped on the confectioner’s bandwagon by using chocolate candy wrappers made of biodegradable products. Many political and environmental groups use the wrappers as a means to promote their cause such as the Endangered Species Chocolate. And in an effort to clean up Mother Earth and promote conservation, some companies like Ecoist, are recycling chocolate wrappers into fashionable coin purses and accessories. Charles Chocolates even makes an edible chocolate box, alleviating the need to recycle their packaging.
Just in time for the holidays, gourmet Vermont chocolate maker, Lake Champlain Chocolates, has introduced its holiday line of all-natural chocolate gifts for winter, Christmas, and Hanukah gift giving. This year’s packaging features dazzling designs incorporating scenes fromVermont’s great snowy outdoors. These include a new triangle-shaped box of Organic Truffles and a lopsided Nuts and Raisins Star box with a clear pane window. “The festive packaging for the holidays is just the answer and the retail price offers affordable luxury,” says Allyson Myers, Director of Sales for LCC.
The production of fine gourmet chocolate is an art that is not only reflected in the composition of the confection, but in the overall appearance and delivery. For the chocolate gourmet it is the epitome of excellence.
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Copyright 2008 Charlene Davis. All rights reserved.
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