Bog Standard Belgian Choccie's. (Guylian Chocolate Sea Shells)

Member Name: Little Miss

Product:	Guylian Chocolate Sea Shells
Date:	02/04/01 (332 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap and Cheerful

Disadvantages: not Belgian chocolate at it's best

Guylian chocolate seashells are probably one of the best known Belgian chocolates in England. They seem to be imported in vast quantities to the UK, probably as they can compete quite equally on price with UK chocolate brands. And compared to most other brands of chocolate in the UK they stand up quite well, they taste good and their packaging is reasonable. Another reason could be the Belgians want to keep the really good chocolates all to themsleves, (and who could blame them).

Chocolate Seashells are Belgiums most popular, they are small chocolates shaped like seashells with a praline centre. Most Belgium chocolate brands make seashell pralines (Neuhaus make a slight variation with a caramel twist added to the praline, highly recommended, but I may write a seperate opinion on those at a later date so I won't go into detail). The seashell reflects the Belgian obsession with seafood, don't let the design put you off they are a good compared to most UK chocolate brands although they can be rather sickly.

However should you venture to Belgium you will find that Guylian chocolate seashells are available in supermarkets and tacky souvenir shops, ideally positioned for tourists buying in large quantities. I don't put this down, as if you do go to Belgium you'll probably get a lot of requests to bring back chocolates, so if you don't want to break the bank this is a reasonable option. (Although I'd probably opt for buying bars of Cote d'Or chocolate which is equally cheap but much better.) Like I said before they are good, but they are nothing out of the ordinary and not a true representation of the quality of Belgian chocolate. To me, I'd put them level with a bar of Dairy Milk, they're chocolate, they taste good, but they are really nothing special I certainly wouldn't buy them as a gift for anyone.

If you want to really treat yourself, (or someone special) to some excellent Belgian chocolate
, I would not go for Guylian. I would recommend one of the chains of chocolate houses like Neuhaus or Godiva. They may be a lot more expensive but he chocolates are a lot fresher, usually made fresh in the shop and kept refrigerated.

If Guylian are the only Belgian chocolates you've ever tasted then you will certainly do not have a true impression, in fact you have been deprived of the true exquisitness of Belgian chocolate.

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