06.11.2010-We are truly excited about our 2010 range of festive chocolate creations that celebrate and take inspiration from the Victorian era, when Charles Dickens revived the Christmas spirit and sparkly Christmas Trees took centre stage in people's homes across the nation.

No era in history has influenced the way in which we celebrate Christmas quite as much as the Victorians. With the start of Queen Victoria's reign in 1837, Britain was introduced to many Christmas customs that have become cherished traditions such as Christmas Trees, Mulled Wine and gifts.


The Frosty Snow Crystal
Dicken's memorable descriptions of the snow and icy Christmas scenes in both 'A Christmas Carol' and 'The Pickwick Papers' owe a great deal to our traditional vision of a white Christmas. Each layer of the Frosty Snow Crystal has a rich house blended hazelnut gianduja filling coated in a choice of Demarquette's smooth 71.1% dark or 38% Milk house blend. A delicate white chocolate frosting completes the unique icy winter finish.

The Christmas Tree
Queen Victoria's German husband Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha helped to make the Christmas tree as popular in Britain as they were in his native Germany, when he brought one to Windsor Castle in the 1840's. As an emblem of eternal life and renewal in the dark days of mid-winter, this year's Demarquette Chocolate Tree is decorated with shimmering chocolate caramel baubles flavoured with Winter Berries, Orange & Clove and Roasted Cinnamon & Apple using the luxurious 71.1% house chocolate.

Victorian Christmas Ganache Collection
Marc offers his interpretation of traditional Festive flavours enrobed in a thin layer of smooth 71.1% house couverture chocolate.
Flavours include:
•    Mulled Wine
•    Mince Pie
•    Traditional Christmas Tea
•    Christmas Spices
The limited edition ganache chocolate selection is presented in a festive selection box of 16 chocolates.
 
Christmas Caramel Collection
In addition to Demarquette's popular caramel collections including 'The Great British Orchard', 'The English Garden' and 'The British Summer', Marc Demarquette has created a special Limited Edition Festive Caramel Collection with three inspirational flavours: Winter Berries, Orange & Clove and Roasted Cinnamon & Apple. Also available at Harvey Nichols nationwide in the UK.

Nutkeeper's Praline Caramel Collection
Back in Victorian times Christmas stockings, which first became popular from around 1870, would often contain nuts and still today Christmas is the peak period for edible nut consumption. Unique to the market, Marc Demarquette has created four hybrid praline caramel chocolates using Kentish Cobnut, Provencal Almond, Persian Pistachio and American Pecan & Maple as his ingredients.

The 2010 range of festive chocolates is available at the Demarquette Boutique in Chelsea and online. Selected ranges will be available at Fortnum & Mason and Harvey Nichols nationwide.