Belgian premium confectionery brand Neuhaus has forged an inventive collaboration with national fashion designer Christian Wijnants for Les Nuances: an exclusive product series celebrating craftsmanship, writes Neill Barston.

The business, which has more than 160 years of manufacturing to its name, has prided itself on its artisan-founded heritage that has evolved to a major commercial enterprise. 

As the chocolate group explained, its latest combined venture blends the skills of its own chocolatiers with Wijnants’ distinctive approach to texture, layering and design.

Notably, discussions on the collaboration began around the designers’ latest collection of work, which characterised by clean lines, layered fabrics and natural materials.

The praline-based series includes varieties available in pistachio, in addition to further choices including a caramel flavour, and further options including Pecan & Raspberry, as well as a rich ristretto coffee, plus a white and dark chocolate combination.

Presented in gift boxes designed by Christian Wijnants and complemented by an exclusive limited edition silk scarf, Les Nuances becomes a unique gifting experience.

Its interplay of textures and compositions resonated with the savoir-faire of the Neuhaus Maîtres Chocolatiers, who translated these contrasts into chocolate through layers of flavour and texture. The result is a collection of five praline creations, built around layers of Belgian chocolate, contrasting textures and refined flavours.

For his part, Antwerp-based Wijnants has become recognised for his ranges of knitwear, distinctive prints and rich use of colour. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, he launched his eponymous label in 2003 and has since received several prestigious international awards.

The collaboration with Neuhaus grew from a natural recognition between both worlds. Wijnants has been a chocolate lover from an early age and shares a longstanding personal connection with Neuhaus. At the same time, both Neuhaus and Christian Wijnants share a deep respect for craftsmanship and the quality of the materials at the origin of every creation.

New collection
For Les Nuances, the Neuhaus Maîtres Chocolatiers approached the praline in an unconventional way. Each creation combines carefully composed layers of Belgian chocolate and fillings, allowing different textures and flavours to reveal themselves throughout the tasting experience.

Smooth chocolate meets textured centres, creamy fillings contrast with delicate crunches, while the flavour palette moves from nutty and caramelised to vibrant and citrusy.

As the company revealed, the series’ layered construction is also deliberately visible. To achieve its exceptionally precise finish, the Maîtres Chocolatiers use an innovative waterjet cutting technique comparable to the technology used to cut marble. Because no pressure is applied to the praline during cutting, its individual layers and textures remain perfectly intact.