The Museum in Weesp had an interesting exhibition about the chocolate Firm Van Houten which was founded in 1815 in Amsterdam and in 1850 build a new factory in Weesp. In the 1820s chocolate drinking was not widely developed and the taste quality was very poor. How to develop a chocolate drink where the housewife should only add hot water or milk to a chocolate basis. How to make the chocolate soluble?
In 1828 Van Houten invented the cocoa pressing method. Cocoa solids were separated from cocoa butter by means of pressing by treatment with alkali, acids were neutrilized, fibres softened and broken up. Result, light fluffy powder full of flavour, extremely digestible and easy soluble in milk or water.
Other ground beans( =cocoa mass) mixed with sugar and with added cocoa butter which had been optained in making cocoa powder, could be moulded into solid chocolate bars, and used to coat chocolate candies.
Their posters had a high standard as this one from the art nouveau period.
The chocolate powder was kept in the households in these tin cans.
And look what I bought at the flea-market this summer? It is the same kind of can, but from another firm, the competitor. I only don't use it for chocolate but keep my green tea in.
When I was a kid I always liked the old art they used on theses tins.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenJust the posters themselves are great!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI have some of these olde cans, similar to yours in use here at the house - we use a large one for crackers and I use the other one for my coffee also one for tea, tea bags, and others that just sit on a top shelf looking pretty. I loved the olde tins for you sure do not see any quite like them today. That chocolate looks mighty tasty too.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenLove old tins.(and chocolate of course). I was actually named after Mary Jane molasses...which came in such a tin,
BeantwoordenVerwijderenAs a non coffee drinker I often enjoy a cup of hot chocolate when I am out on a cold day. The history of how it developed is really interesting as is your tin from that same period.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenNever thought making a cocoa drink was so involved. I like that art nouveau style poster. So you do go to the flea market. What time should I come by and pick you up this Sunday?
BeantwoordenVerwijderenWell, shall, we say at eleven?
VerwijderenDie blikken blijven mooi, zeker als ze er zo gebruikt uitzien.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenSo I was thinking, "What was it like before chocolate?" Interesting display on chocolate's history.I love chocolate but have curbed my intake to the point that I don't miss chocolate.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenLove the last two photos with the girls on the tins.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenLeuke verzameling affiches en blikken. Ik krijg wel meteen zin in een stuk chocola.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenDearest Marianne,
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThat is very interesting. Back in The Netherlands I've used a lot of Van Houten Cacao. Now I only can obtain the Droste, your last photo's tin.
Did you know that Cacao has such tremendous health qualities? We mix it in with our coffee to make a cho-cof as we call it. It is so high on the list of antioxidant-rich foods: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_process_chocolate
Hugs,
Mariette
I prefer the Verkade bars most, het dikke melkblokje, but I dont eat too much chocolate.
VerwijderenLeuk die oude reclame. Ik denk dat je ook wel van het Chocolade museum zou kunnen houden in Brugge.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenGroetjes,
Filip
The tins are antique and very interesting. How wonderful that you found one, and, of course, it's perfect for storing tea!!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI love these old posters. Bet they cost a fortune now. Also, thanks for the education.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenBeautiful and cozy! Love those posters, tins and love chocolate
BeantwoordenVerwijderenhttp://marinainblue.blogspot.com.es/
competition for Belgian chocolate :)
BeantwoordenVerwijderenoooh, how nice!!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenso funny that you even post more of my hometown than i do... :)))
A most fascinating post! «Louis» likes the old posters and tins, too! (He collects this type of thing...)
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