About Us

Our History

A Belgian couple moved with their children from Belgium to the United States in the summer of 1998. With them they brought the idea of bringing a very well known Belgian product closer to the local market.  But instead of importing finished chocolate products, they started  local production of top quality and most exquisite Belgian Style Chocolates.  A brand new chocolaterie was built in Castle Rock, Colorado, which came into operation in January of 1999, and the first Belvedere Belgian Chocolate Shop® opened in November of 1999 in Castle Rock, Colorado.

Our Products

Often, a first time customer to a Belvedere Belgian Chocolate Shop® will ask us how all these beautiful chocolates and chocolate creations were imported to which we are proud to say that everything they see is made right here in Colorado !

It is important to know that all of our products are made with real Belgian Chocolate. Although the laws in Europe and Belgium, which is part of the European Union, allow chocolate manufacturers to replace up to 5 % of the cocoa butter by vegetable oils (eg. oil from coconut, palm kernel, etc.) and still call the product chocolate.  This is done to lower the price of the end-product but we believe it affects also the quality and definitely the taste of the chocolate.  Therefore, we only use pure chocolate with no substitutes. Our top-of-the-line chocolate is made by Callebaut Belgium,  and imported to the US. The sugar free chocolate comes from a Callebaut owned and operated factory in Canada. Please review the Chocolate Bars on the Belvedere Products page for more details on bulk chocolate products. Our shops carry all the kinds of chocolate we use ourselves, so for all your home baking chocolate needs, you can rely on us to have the best. 

All Belvedere products are manufactured according to the Belgian tradition and like it is taught in the chocolate school Han attended in Bruges, Belgium, our previous hometown.  We would like to emphasize that, unlike some of the imported Belgian chocolates and products of other chocolatiers, we DO NOT use preservatives, colorings or artificial additives and, absolutely no trans fats (hydrogenated fat) !   Also our factory is peanut free, when allergies are a concern. Perhaps a detail to some who read this, but our dark chocolate is lactose free: more than 10 pralines/truffles of our assortment are vegan. Fillings and centers are made from scratch, always with fresh dairy products and most of all are well balanced, so that your pallet isn’t affected with an overwhelming after taste.  Like a delicious wine, it should fade away as you enjoy the flavors.

Han & Johan

You can reach us at Factory@BelvedereChocolates.com.