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Posted: 13 Aug 2025
In 1828, Van Houten’s founder, Casparus Van Houten, invented the hydraulic cocoa press to separate cocoa butter from the liquor and make a lighter and more nutritious cocoa powder. And he didn’t stop there. His thirst to deliver delicious cocoa to everyone resulted in a whole new industry. Under his watchful eye, chocolate drinks first saw the light of day. His son Coenraad inherited his passion for cocoa and invented the renowned Dutching process, alkalising cocoa for a better taste and solubility. This technique is still used around the world today. The improved solubility, better colour and tastier flavour of cocoa, once and for all changed people’s mind.
Chocolate drinks were here to stay.
Van Houten’s pioneering attitude led to more than one international breakthrough. The cocoa company became the first to introduce tin cans in 1865, again radically changing the industry. Taste could now be preserved longer, opening the world to a global expansion. By the end of the 19th century, you could get Van Houten in the United Kingdom, United States, Germany and France. It quickly became known as the brand of high-quality cocoa powders.
Van Houten’s Journey Through Time: | |
1828 – The first Van Houten cocoa powders rolled off the shelf | 2008 – The first to make a 50% less sugar cocoa drink for vending |
1846 – The first to alkalise cocoa neutralising its bitterness | 2018 – The first single-origin chocolate drink powders for Horeca |
1932 – Entered the vending business with chocolate bars | 2021 – And now Van Houten’s latest innovation… |
Ruby chocolate has been the talk-of-the-town ever since its introduction as the 4th type of chocolate, in 2017. This new sensorial delight has already been successfully launched for both artisans and chefs. And every day it’s becoming more clear: the taste of ruby is here to stay.
It’s by far the biggest evolution since the invention of white chocolate in 1937, inspiring tablets, pralines, biscuits — and now chocolate drinks!
Indulge in the delicious taste of the first-ever ruby chocolate drink
Ready to reinvigorate the chocolate drink category
Ruby gives baristas their creativity back. It allows them to pioneer a new sensory experience for Millennials and Centennials who crave new experiences and delights
Through the Cocoa Horizons Foundation, Van Houten ruby chocolate powder is helping to create a brighter future for cocoa farmers. The Cocoa Horizons Foundation is an impact driven program with the vision to drive cocoa farmer prosperity by creating self-sustaining communities that protect nature and children. It’s a non-profit organisation, third party verified, highly transparent on premium and methodology. The Foundation focuses on three areas to improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and their communities:
The Foundation is present in Côte D’Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon, Indonesia, Brazil and Ecuador.
Earlier this year, the Barry Callebaut factory in Belgium closed for several months following a salmonella-positive chocolate production lot. While the factory has re-opened and our Callebaut stocks are improving again, the closure had a significant ripple effect on the chocolate industry and our other brands continue to be in high demand.
Where we can offer alternatives, there will be a 'Find Alternatives' button. Thank you for your patience.