Chocolate Store in Bruges Old Town

One of the many chocolate shops in Bruges. There are too many to count, but each one is unique in its design and layout. You can wander for hours in these shops; it's fascinating the number of ways that chocolate products are presented and sold (I found some in the shape and look of old tools).

Chocolate has been a major industry in Belgium since the 19th century, and today it forms an important part of the nation's economy and culture. However, the raw materials used in chocolate production do not originate in Belgium; most cocoa is produced in Africa, central America, and south America. Nevertheless, the country has had an association with the product that dates to the early 17th century. While the industry has been regulated by law since 1894, there is no universal standard for the chocolate to be labelled "Belgian". The most commonly accepted standard dictates that the actual production must take place inside Belgium.