Chocolate Gourmet
As Good as Grandma's?
Brittle varieties are on display at the Bitter & Zart (Bitter & Gentle) chocolate store in downtown Frankfurt. The gourmet shop even offers special tasting events.
Decorative Delights
Some chocolates are so elaborately decorated and carefully presented that it's hard for customers to tell if they're spending their money on the gourmet chocolate or the artwork.
Creative Combos
These pretty chocolate bars at a gourmet candy shop in Munich can cost as much as 6 euros ($8.50). For that price, "milk" and "dark" are rather ordinary -- these come in daring flavors like chili-caramel and honey-balsamic.
Packaged Desire
A box of praline chocolates on display in Munich bears the name "Lustobjekte" (objects of desire) -- that is the latest trend in chocolate marketing: presenting it as a gourmet delicacy.
Cocoa on a Stick
The new wave of German chocolatiers are increasingly looking for new, innovative ways to recreate the eating experience -- such as this chocolate-on-a-stick approach by German chocolatier Coppeneur.
Too Pretty to Eat
These truffles from a Munich sweets boutique could also serve as decoration or jewelry. Gourmet chocolate is the latest food trend, say industry experts, and more and more luxury shops are opening up in Germany's big cities.