French-style chocolate often refers to French chocolate bonbons. French bonbons often have a thinner outer chocolate shell than Belgian or Swiss. The original process of hand dipping, rather than moulding, produces this thin chocolate shell. French-style chocolates generally have a ganache centre of chocolate or cream, sometimes infused with flavourings such as orange, coffee, or raspberry. This style of chocolate also often uses pralines or nuts.

There are just too many fantastic French chocolatiers and chocolate makers to list them all below. But some of my favourites are:

• Patrick Roger
• Chapon
• Jean-Paul Hévin
• Pralus

Obviously most of the fine French chocolate production is centred on Paris, but don’t restrict yourself to the city. As you get further down the country the weather is obviously hotter and less suitable for the production and enjoyment of chocolate, but there are great chocolatiers all over France. To prove this point, Salon du Chocolate have rated 155 wonderful chocolatiers, you can find the list here.