Dresden – The Chocolate Capital
We are in the early 18th century , a time when Frederick Augustus I of Saxony ( Augustus the Strong ) already appreciated the pleasures of chocolate. Chocolate became the fashionable drink of courtly society . The ladies, in particular, celebrated the cocoa ritual, meeting in large, airy chocolate-drinking rooms and serving the frothy beverage in silver pitchers and the finest porcelain as an afternoon treat, while the powerful gentlemen turned to political topics in conversation.
Augustus the Strong didn't stop at chocolate-themed dining rooms. He commissioned the production of special vessels made from Meissen porcelain, which is now famous worldwide. The motif of the court and chocolate Moor is known globally.
The majority of Dresden's chocolate and confectionery factories were established at the end of the 19th century . During the German Empire, the city developed into the industry's main center and was a significant part of Dresden's food and beverage industry. The products were exported worldwide . Several factors contributed to the development of this industry in Dresden: excellent transport connections , proximity to the beet sugar industry , demand from wealthy customers , and, not least, the traditions of confectioners and pastry chefs .
The expansion of chocolate production simultaneously boosted other sectors, especially the construction of specialized machinery and equipment . The cardboard packaging, printing, and advertising industries also benefited disproportionately.
Before the First World War , nearly 7,000 people worked in the chocolate and confectionery industry in Dresden , representing more than a fifth of the workforce in the entire German Empire. Twenty-eight factories processed approximately 550 tons of cocoa annually . Nationwide, 1,700 tons were processed per year . This sheer volume alone underscores Dresden's position as the chocolate capital . No other city in Germany had such a high concentration of such industries.
Another attribution can be derived from Dresden specialties, such as the Tell apple , the dominoes or the Russian bread .
The Dresden entrepreneurs Jordan & Timaeus demonstrably invented and sold the first milk chocolate . The Swiss, however, like to claim this invention for themselves. In 1839, more precisely on May 22nd, 1839 , Jordan & Timaeus advertised a "chocolate with donkey milk" in the Dresdner Anzeiger newspaper. In 1876, the Swiss entrepreneur Daniel Peter offered milk chocolate .
Well-known companies such as Otto Rüger with their cult brand HANSI, Riedel & Engelmann known as Schwerter Schokolade or Anton Reiche , manufacturer of the world-famous chocolate molds, have significantly contributed to the success of mass chocolate production.
The company Anton Reiche is responsible for the invention of chocolate-filled Advent calendars in Dresden .
The various classifications show that the chocolate city of Dresden is composed of many aspects and inventions and draws on diverse traditions.
