Lindt Chocolate
A Swiss Delight
Swiss-based Lindt & Sprungli is a company that produces and markets confections and chocolates, and was founded by David Sprungli-Schwartz, along with his son Rudolf Sprungli-Ammann, in 1845. Over a century and a half later, in 1998, the company purchased the popular American Ghirardelli Chocolate brand.
Prior to 1879, you could only find chocolate available in liquid or cocoa form. However, Switzerland's Rodolphe Lindt can be credited with realizing that cocoa butter could be added to chocolate to produce a bar. He also invented the method known as conching, which means that chocolate is refined by heating and rolling it. After going through this process for 72 hours, more cocoa butter is added, giving it a creamy texture that melts into a heavenly puddle in your mouth.
Because of the fact that his chocolate and its melting capabilities would one day be famous, it has been argued that Lindt was the most famous of chocolate makers of his time.
Lindt actually worked for the Sprungli Company, although he retired from the company in 1905. It was soon after his retirement that he opened a factory of his own, which he named A. & W. Lindt. However, the new company was considered to be a breach of the contract that Lindt had with Sprungli, therefore legal battles ensued. After costing tons of money, and causing a good amount of stress, the battle ended in 1928, with a new firm, called Lindt & Sprungli, being liquidated. The new joint venture was a success, eventually expanding manufacturing sites and a distribution network to places all over the world.
Today, Lindt is known for making creamy, rich, high-quality chocolates that make just about anyone's mouth water. Varieties include white, dark, mixed, etc. Familiar brands found include Excellence, Lindor, Chocoletti, Truffles, Gold Bunny, and Swiss Tradition De Luxe, just to name a few.