CHARBONNEL ET WALKER

Charbonnel et Walker history

Charbonnel et Walker was founded in 1875 and is one of Britain’s earliest chocolatiers. Encouraged by Edward VII, (then the Prince of Wales), Charbonnel et Walker first formed as a partnership between Mrs Walker and Mme. Charbonnel, the latter was persuaded away from the Maison Boissier chocolate house in Paris.

Charbonnel et Walker’s original shop opened at 173 New Bond Street in Mayfair and has remained in Bond Street ever since. It is now housed in one of London’s elegant arcades, the Royal Arcade on Old Bond Street.

The Royal Warrant for Charbonnel et Walker

Charbonnel et Walker are endorsed by the Royal Warrant as chocolate manufacturers to Her Majesty The Queen. This great honour allows the Royal Warrant to be stamped on each of their creations and we have heard that Her Majesty The Queen is particularly partial to milk chocolate and each year presented with a selection of Easter eggs to choose as gifts. Charbonnel et Walker Easter eggs are beautifully gift wrapped in ribboned boxes.

Charbonnel et Walker range of chocolates

Charbonnel et Walker chocolates are hand-made according to traditional recipes and range from plain and flavoured chocolate bars and 'thins' through to selection gift boxes and seasonal chocolate gifts. Charbonnel et Walker's Easter chocolate collection is particularly popular with their attractively boxed Easter eggs being one of the most luxurious Easter eggs on the market. Their drinking chocolate is one of the best selling luxury drinking chocolates on the market too, packed in an attractive tin and in flake form.

The famous Charbonnel et Walker truffles

Charbonnel et walker is famous for its growing range of chocolate truffles, decadently rich and beautifully packaged in round gift boxes. The most popular being the Pink Marc de Champagne truffles which are made with a milk chocolate ganache centre infused with brandy and encased in a strawberry flavoured, white chocolate shell. Presented in a candy pink box with gold emboss. Charbonnel et Walker now make a wide range of chocolate truffles in various flavours such as mint, Bucks Fizz, ginger, strawberry, vanilla and cappuccino made with milk, dark and white chocolates.

Charbonnel et Walker today

Charbonnel et Walker now have 3 shops, two in London and one in Leeds, showcasing their luxury range of chocolates which can also be found in many higher end department stores and of course ourselves. Their shops exude tradition and are a favourite for traditionalists with London being particularly popular with tourists from all over the world. Charbonnel et Walker is now also found in Japan; This traditional British brand has gone global.

Charbonnel et Walker as the perfect gift

It is often very difficult to decide what chocolate gift to buy someone, particularly if not knowing the recipients tastes. So to assist you; Charbonnel et Walker is considered a luxury chocolate and is certainly of a higher quality than 'chocolate confectionery' and the high street UK brand we have all grown up with. It is not however in the same, superior league as the world's finest chocolatiers such as Valrhona and Michel Cluizel, for example. Charbonnel et Walker, generally speaking, caters to a wide audience, preferring a sweeter tasting chocolate, mostly milk and with additional flavours including alcohol. If you are buying a chocolate gift for a chocolate connoissuer with a taste and budget for the finer things in life then Charbonnel et Walker may not be the right choice. Charbonnel et Walker is suitable however to chocoholics, sweet toothed traditionalists and those taking a first step on the ladder of fine chocolate, in very nice boxes.