The chocolate bar wasn't invented until the 1920's but from the early 1820’s, the UK had developed quite a unique chocolate taste, initially refined by the Fry family and their company (Fry's Turkish Delight!? etc etc) and special flavors. Chocolate was a pricey comodity and came in individual units of dark chocolate, very often combined with strong, pronounced flavors like mint cream, rose & violet cream and ginger. The history of chocolate in Britain is very closely related to the royal family, as it was Queen Victoria who appointed companies like Charbonnel & Walker (1825), Ackermans Chocolates (1919) and Bendicks of Mayfair. Even today, some of these companies remain under royal appointment and still produce the same traditional UK chocolates.
Rose and violet creams with crystalised rose or violet petals on top, seem like an old ladies delicacy of years gone by but such victorian flavours are back and once again becoming best sellers. Fortnum and Mason and Charbonnel and Walker and even newby company Kshocolat are selling they floral morsels.
As the afternoon tea is once again vogue; these chocolates are the old/new sweet treat and the best new gift.
I predict that the wearing gloves and day hats will be back very soon...
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