 Sulpice Debauve was the
royal family chemist. One day, when he visited
the queen with a new concoction, she complained
that most of her medicines tasted too strong
and quite unpleasant. She suggested taking
them with the hot drinking chocolate she was
accustomed to enjoying for so many years in
Vienna. To put medicine in hot drinking chocolate,
however, was not a good idea, as the result
would be even worse since the heat would increase
the taste and the smell of the medicines.
Thus came about the idea that they would put
medicine in solid chocolate, not the chocolate
used to make drinking chocolate (in thick
liquid form), but a new kind of solid chocolate
devised to be eaten solid with the medicine
inside.
Cocoa was yet known as an invigorating product.
In the D & G tradition, it is said that
the Pistole was founded by the Queen herself
when she saw the first ones in a coin shape
(more beautiful as such when displayed on
a tray). She enjoyed nice conversations over
them with the Spanish nobles visiting her.
The Pistole was first made of cocoa, cane
sugar, and medicine mixed together. However,
because the queen was a chocolate fan, she
asked for more, though with an even further
improved taste. Thus S. Debauve simultaneously
became a chocolate chemist (manufacturing
Pistoles with medicine according to the orders
of the king's doctor) and a "chocolatier"
because he produced Pistoles with pleasant
flavours such as orange blossom, almond milk,
Orgeat cream, coffee, vanilla, etc., according
to the queen's wishes. We believe the queen's
favorite was almond milk.
After the Revolution, S. Debauve opened his
first chocolate shop and decorated the front
with a quote from Horace: "Utile Dulci," referring
to the mix of the health benefits of cocoa
and the pleasure of enjoying chocolate. Though
we stopped producing most of the varieties
since we are no longer a licensed chemist
company, we still offer a broad selection.
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