As many of you already know I'm a big chocolate lover. Luckily I live in Belgium. We have amazing chocolate brands over here. One of them is GuyLian Chocolates.
GuyLian Chocolates, Belgian chocolate shaped like shells
GuyLian Chocolates is famous for its seahorse and seashell shaped chocolates with a soft chocolate filling. When I was little my grandparents used to take me to the Belgian seaside during summer vacation and there was a chocolate store there where we'd always get GuyLian Belgian chocolates. Now, whenever there's a family get together, my grandmother has a box of GuyLian Chocolates for my brother and me.
You can tell I'm a fan, right? So when GuyLian offered to send me two kinds of their chocolates to review, I didn't have to think twice.
Guylian Chocolates: the classics
First up are GuyLian's classic chocolate seashells, of which there are 11 in total (including a sea horse, but let's give them a break):
- the sea horse
- the sunrise shell
- the oyster
- the harp shell
- the wentletrap
- the shrimp
- the palourde
- the snail
- the guibert
- the mussle
- the cockle
Each of these chocolate seashells carries the G-stamp as proof of its authenticity.
Nice to know: the GuyLian seahorse shaped chocolates have a tail that curls the other way than the tail of seahorses in nature does.
So, how did they taste? Well, of course, I already kind of knew as these are the original Guylian Belgian Chocolate seashells with hazelnut praliné filling (doesn't that just make your mouth water? “Hazelnut praliné”, mmm). They tasted great. You have to bite through the chocolate shell and right after you feel a crack, you get to the soft praliné part.
GuyLian actually has a great guide on their website on how to savor GuyLian chocolates.
Guylian Chocolates: the new Temptations
With the original sea shell chocolates, GuyLian had also send me their Temptations, individually wrapped GuyLian's in three different flavors:
- the original praliné
- the dark praliné, with a 74% dark chocolate shell and dark praliné inside
- the milk truffle, with milk chocolate both on the inside and on the outside
I'm always careful when a brand brings out variations on its most famous product. It's often like with a book: the original is usually best.
Luckily, GuyLian didn't disappoint. I did like their Original Praliné Temptations best, but the other two varieties stayed close to the original with another taste, but an equally crunchy chocolate layer around a soft center.
Project Seahorse
Project Seahorse was founded in 1996 by two scientists doing research on seahorses. The goal of the project is to protect seahorses and other marine life from overfishing, incidental catch and the destruction of their habitats.
With the seahorse as its signature chocolate I think it's very fitting that GuyLian supports this project. The brand does this in two ways. The first is by organizing activities and events to raise awareness about the subject; the second is by donating a part of the sales to the project. So each time you buy some GuyLian chocolates, you're also supporting Project Seahorse.
If you'd like to know more about Project Seahorse, check out the website.
I was offered a box of GuyLian Belgian Chocolate Sea Shells and a box of GuyLian Temptations for review, but I assure you that if I hadn't liked them, I wouldn't have eaten them all so quickly.
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Liz says
Guylian was the first type of Belgian chocolate I tried! I miss the amazing chocolates everywhere since moving. I’m particularly partial to Galler, though :)
Sofie says
Ah yes Galler. Less known than some of the other brands, but oh so yummie as well:)
Sylvia van der Male says
I love the Leonidas chocolate! But also in Umbria, Perugia che chocolate is outstanding.
Sofie says
Actually,my grandfather is just as addicted to chocolate as I am, but my grandmother only likes one kind of chocolate: the white pralines from Leonidas.
I have to say I don’t think I’ve tried Perugia yet.
Sylvia van der Male says
The white pralines are outstanding delicious! And what about Belgian chocolate truffles? If you are addicted to chocolate you really need to try the Perugia Baci ;)
Sofie says
Mmm… maybe I should plan a trip to Umbria:)
Charlton says
I’ve never had these Belgian chocolates. They sound fantastic.
Sofie says
When we meet again i’ll bring you some:)
I’ve already looked up if you can ship chocolate to the States, but apparently customs can be difficult about it (if they notice, of course) :-)
Charlton says
I will hold you to that.
As I remember, you came and went last time without so much as a hello.
Next time, be prepared to sit through an entire box of chocolates. I’ll bring the Bací.
Sofie says
Bací? What’s that?:D
I’ll make sure to bring a big box:)
Charlton says
https://www.italybeyondtheobvious.com/perugia
You’re welcome!
Sofie says
Thanks for leading people to another blog:p
Hans Couwenbergh says
Post makes me feel like going for a box straight away…
Sofie says
Hahaha. Like daughter, like father?:D
Hans says
Sort of… As far as chocolates are concerned for sure… But I have more vices…
Sofie says
True:D
You might just as well comment on my “Belgian beer” series, I don’t:D
Hans Couwenbergh says
Rather on a wine item
Tim | UrbanDuniya says
OMG this is like the perfect post for me! I love chocolate, no matter what type (I prefer quality, but would never say no) and eating Guylian in Belgium must be like fulfilling a pilgrimage – I totally get it!! Thanks for sharing!! :D
Sofie says
Hahaha you’re welcome Tim. I really feel your enthusiasm:)
Charlton says
I copied the link from an image. Sorry, I should have checked it first. But carving 1100kg of chocolate??? Sounds like your next trip should be to Perugia.
Guess I owe you 2 boxes of chocolate now.
Sofie says
Haha no prob, just kidding:-)
I’d love to go to Perugia, actually.
it’s on that long list with hundreds of other places:)
Agness says
These chocolates are one of the most common in Poland. You can get them from any store and supermarket and we often buy them for someone’s birthday or as a wedding gift. They are yummy, creamy and affordable! Mmmmmm I would have one or two or a box :D
Sofie says
Really? I didn’t know they were so big over there!
I’d have a box:p
Amanda Kendle says
YUM!!!!!!!!! Guylian are my all-time favourites (they are easy to find here in Australia). How lucky you were to get some to review – I must work on that myself.
Sofie says
Haha :-)
They probably knew about my love for chocolate. I make no secret of that:)
Marianne says
How wonderful! There are many wonderful confections I miss from Belgium, particularly les cuberdons. Are you originally from there? My mother was born and raised there and I used to go back a lot when I was young, but haven’t been in a very long time now.
Sofie says
Oooh cuberdons! :-)
Yes I was born and raised here, like your mother!
When did she leave Belgium?
Marianne says
She left in the 70’s to live in Sweden with my father, then they got married and came over the states. Shortly after I was born :) We used to go back to Belgium a lot until I was about 15, then my grandmother moved to Ireland, then France so I never had the chance to return since then.
Sofie says
Wow, you seem to have a travel fond family as well!:-)
Marianne says
haha yes! it definitely runs in my blood! my cousin who was also born in Belgium, then raised in Ireland and still lives there has been all over the world with her husband. i haven’t traveled that extensively myself, but i’m getting there. :) cheers!
Heather says
I got married at the beach and actually gave out small boxes of these chocolates as the party favor. They are so so good!
Sofie says
What a great gift idea!
And they fit nicely into the beach theme:)
Sofie says
@Marianne: We should meet:D
Marianne says
that would be fun someday! let me know next time you are in the US. unfortunately i don’t have plans at the moment to be in Europe for the near future. :[
Sofie says
Will do!
Boyfriend just got his international passport for our trip to Canada, so I told him that now we have to travel across the ocean each year until it expires, because otherwise it would be a waste :p
Christopher Barnes says
I’ll definitely have to bring some of these home on my next trip. They sound delightful. Also, they are incredibly nice looking and intricate. They’re like little works of chocolate art.
Sofie says
They are great!
I’m actually planning on sharing some more chocolate tips in a few weeks, so you better bring a large suitcase:-)
Christopher Barnes says
I am bringing a suitcase, it’s my custom beer carrying suitcase! No room for chocolate in that one. Unless it’s a beer with chocolate in it!
Sofie says
How about a beer that you HAVE to have with Belgian chocolate on the side?:)
Christopher Barnes says
I don’t know about “Have” to have, but a nice sweeter fruit lambic, like a Boon Kriek or Framboise will go nicely with some dark chocolate.
Samantha @mytanfeet says
I’m a bit jealous you live in Belgium surrounded by all this wonderful chocolate and beer :) I’ve tried the Guylian seashell ones before my friend brought back for me and I savored every single bite, chocolate from the states just does NOT compare! Yummmm now I’m craving it. *drool*
Sofie says
Hahaha Samantha :-)
It’s great… and awful at the same time: I can get delicious chocolate everywhere and it’s SO hard to not eat it all the time.
I could have chocolate for lunch. Seriously, I could.
Katie says
Yum! I love Guylian chocolate, and this post is making my mouth water. I’m eating a chocolate muffin while reading / writing this, put it’s paling into insignificance compared to Guylian.
You’re so lucky living in Belgium!
Sofie says
Hahaha! I have a love/hate relationship with muffins. I think they’re great for the first few bites, but I always have difficulties finishing them.
Katie says
I usually quite like them – this one just left a lot to be desired, especially when coupled with this post!
Sofie says
Hihihi, sorry about that:)
Shikha (whywasteannualleave) says
I absolutely love Guylian – they are some of my most favourite chocolates in the world and like many people have said here, they are nicely affordable!! I’m feeling so hungry reading this and you must have felt pretty lucky when you got asked to review this!!
Sofie says
The thing that’s so dangerous with GuyLian is that you can just keep eating them. At least I know I can :D