skyline of Detroit on the water. text of Bon Bon Bon in red int the corner

The Sweet History of Bonbons🍫🍰🍬

Posted by Emma Marks on

How Bon Bon Bon is Reinventing a Classic

 

The word "bonbon" might sound like silly French word, but its history is as layered as the ganache and creams inside. From the royal courts of 17th-century France to the bustling streets of modern-day Detroit, this bite-sized indulgence has undergone a massive transformation!

While the tradition is old, the flavors don't have to be! We love to innovate and try new things here at Bon Bon Bon☺️🍫

 

Product shot of our Detroit Collection with each flavor unwrapped in an open cardboard box with colorful background.


A Timeline of the Bonbon’s Evolution

To understand where we are, we have to look at how the bonbon traveled to the Motor City.

  • 17th Century: The term originates from the French word bon (good). Legend has it that they were created in the royal court, where "good-good" was the only way to describe these sugar-coated treats.

  • 18th Century: Bonbons became a status symbol. They were often kept in ornate bonbonnières (crystal or gold boxes) and exchanged as high-society gifts.

  • Early 20th Century: The "American Style" emerged, often featuring cream centers and heavier chocolate coatings.

  • 2014 – Present: The Artisanal Era begins in Detroit. Bon Bon Bon breaks the mold by ditching the fancy boxes and focusing on handcrafted, high-quality, and often unconventional flavors.

black and white photo of a French confectionary shop from the 1800s

 

Handcrafted Chocolate Bonbons: The Detroit Way

What makes a bonbon "artisanal"? It’s the move away from mass production toward handcrafted goodies. In Detroit, this means combining classic French technique with local grit and creativity! ✨🍬

While traditional bonbons often lean on fruit or simple caramel, the modern Detroit bonbon experiments with textures and savory-sweet boundaries. 

Flavor Deep-Dive: A New Standard

If you want to see how far the classic treat has come, you have to meet the Bons. This isn't your grandmother’s candy box! Many Bons are designed to highlight specific regional ingredients like...

  • Better Butter Crunch: A local legend and fan favorite! It features Detroit potato chips and milk chocolate, proving that salt and crunch belong in high-end confectionery.🍫🥔

  • Bour-Bon: A nod to the spirit of the region, utilizing charred oak and bourbon notes for a sophisticated, smoky finish. 😮💨🍊

A tray of our Bour-Bon Bon Bon chocolates

 

Why the Shift to Artisanal Matters

The rise of Detroit chocolate isn't just about sugar; it's about transparency and craftsmanship. By focusing on small-batch production, makers can ensure quality chocolates and local flavors! No wax-heavy coatings here, only ingredients like local spirits or produce that big manufacturers can't compete with.

Not to mention our eco-friendly packaging: Trading plastic for compostable materials. We love our loopy cardboard here at Bon Bon Bon! The best part is that we can customize these boxes into any size our customers need.💗🍫

6 Cake Bons next to a box, with text that says "boxes by the flavor" with pink background.
Did You Know? The original French bonbons were often just sugar-coated nuts. It wasn't until the mid-1800s that chocolate became the primary vessel for these "good-goods."


 

Let's Compare

What is the difference between a truffle and a bonbon?

Technically, all truffles are bonbons, but not all bonbons are truffles! A truffle is specifically a chocolate ganache center rolled in cocoa powder or dipped in chocolate. A bonbon refers more broadly to any small chocolate-covered candy with a center (fruit, liqueur, praline, or crunch). We like both!😋

two cupped hands filled with cacao beans

Where can I find these in person?

If you're in the 313, you're in luck! You can visit the various shop locations to see the Babe Babe Babes in action and build your own custom box. Come on by and try these delicious hand crafted goodies that just appeared in Vogue!🤭 You won't regret it🍫😋

skyline of Detroit with a focus on the Bon Bon Bon logo sign outside our Downtown Detroit location

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