A New French Twist on Chocolate Arts and Letters

By Sally Peabody

Now you have another option for enjoying French Chocolate when in Paris, or anywhere in France for that matter. Well, actually, that is inhaling chocolate.... not consuming it. The French Post Office, La Poste, has issued a series of postage stamps to commemorate chocolate and the fascinating history of chocolate in France. These stamps commemorate the 400th anniversary of French chocolate. They actually have a scent of fine chocolate imbued in the stamp.

La Poste’s website notes that chocolate has historically been seen in various important and poetic guises: as a currency showing one’s wealth, as a food of the gods, as the favorite treat of royal courts, and, in contemporary society the favored treats for children, adults and foodies all.

The stamps were released in May at a philatelic enthusiasts gathering at the Grand Palais where La Poste actually built a temporary post office to celebrate the launch. Next, the stamps were released in Bayonne, arguably the home and source of the great French chocolate tradition. Now they are available all over France. Ten stamps cost 5.60 Euros. However, these stamps are also designed to be collectibles.

Ten different designs depict noteworthy scenes illustrating the history of chocolate, including portraits of the cocoa bean and of Cortes. Cortes is credited with being the first to bring the beans to Europe after drinking sweetened bitter chocolate as a beverage in Mexico.

The stamps also feature a design that pays tribute to chocolate's arrival in Bayonne, in 1609. Thereby hangs a bittersweet tale. The skilled chocolatiers who arrived in Bayonne were often Jewish artisans fleeing persecution in Spain and Portugal. Bayonne and Biarritz proved to be a far more hospitable home for these artisans and thus a grand French gastronomic tradition was born. Originally the food of royals and the very wealthy, chocolate became a beloved pleasure of quotidian folk in the 19th century. I am, as I'm sure you are, ever-grateful!

The best place to buy the chocolate stamps without having to stand in line is the all-night Paris post office located on rue du Louvre (corner of Etienne Marcel). Stamp your letters in good taste!

Sally Peabody is a Paris specialist. She advises independent travelers year-round on getting to their best chocolate (and lots of other good things) and leads small-group culinary tours in spring and fall, including Tea,Paris, and Chocolate Tours.
Visit: http://yourgreatdaysinparis.com.

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