Maison Duplanteur

Life is like a box of chocolates!

Nothing could be truer than this famous film quote, especially when it comes to chocolate itself!
Grasse, the international fragrance capital, also offers a wealth of culinary treats. Take Maison Duplanteur, for example, which is an essential stop-off you won't want to miss.

Niched in a narrow cobblestone street right in the heart of the old town, the beautiful shop window hints at the delicious creations within: from the impressive chocolate waterfall to the vast selection of chocolate pieces and bars, it’s impossible to resist!

When you enter this temple of temptation, the first thing to hit you is the powerful aroma of cocoa: both warm and slightly tart, it sometimes takes visitors by surprise. But you'll have no time to muse on this bewitching scent, as you are immediately welcomed in to the shop and invited to taste the Maison's signature creation: a chocolate whose balance of flavours and powerful “heart note” are both unique and unforgettable.

Connoisseurs, meanwhile, will immediately recognise the characteristic aroma of roasted cocoa beans. Rare in France and utterly unique in the region, Maison Duplanteur is one of only seven chocolate producers to roast their own cocoa beans.

Soft, well-balanced flavours

For those who didn't know, the cocoa bean is native to South America and was initially used in the preparation of the "xocoatl" (chocolate) drink, whose bitter taste repulsed The Conquistadors (the first Europeans to taste the bean). It was only after sugar was added that cocoa became as hugely popular as it is today.

Maison Duplanteur is one of the rare chocolate shops still manufacturing its own products, scrupulously monitoring every phase of the production process with unrivalled skill. It is paradoxical that such a subtle mix of sublimely simple flavours can pack such a punch, and that such a complex production process is required to produce a simple piece of chocolate that provokes an almost instinctive reaction when tasted.

When it comes to traditional techniques, not only does Maison Duplanteur respect the fundamentals, but it takes them to new heights using its own expertise which – while not always completely orthodox – manages to perfect this ancestral legacy.

One taste and you'll be hooked!

We could go on and on, but suffice to say that a quick detour to Grasse will be well worth the effort! It's true that the Provence-Côte d'Azur region is brimming with treats of all sorts, but this unique and rare taste sensation is definitely not something visiting (or resident) chocolate lovers should miss!