A Syrian Chocolatier's Legend Lives On In Europe — But Stays Close To Its Roots
Ghraoui chocolate in Damascus was a place fit for queens — literally. But the family that owned it since 1805 moved from war-torn Syria to Hungary to start over, and ended up thriving.
Andrassy Avenue in the Hungarian capital of Budapest is lined with neo-Renaissance mansions and luxury boutiques representing the finest names in Europe.
One name stands out: Ghraoui. It's the name of a premier chocolatier from Syria.
Inside, there are hand-engraved orange trees on the walls and frescoes of apricot trees on the ceiling. There are glass cases, as if you're in a gallery or a jewelry store.
But the jewels inside the glass cases are handmade, hand-painted chocolates.
Sales associate Noemi Czinkoczky wears plastic gloves to select dark-chocolate hearts with almond pralines, milk chocolates with an upmarket hazelnut cream called and white-chocolate truffles. She places them in a bright-orange box and hands it over to an eager
