Love hidden in a chocolate jar
Author: Anja Neskens
Photography: Anja Neskens
A Heerlen love story of national significance!
Ronald Stoot, born and raised in Heerlen, together with his partner Eric van Veggel, proudly presents a new product: Lucius’ Love Jar. This unique creation is available, among other places, at their beautiful delicatessen shop on Saroleastraat in Heerlen, the Delicious Store.
What was your motivation to develop this beautiful product as a VIA VIA–Via Belgica entrepreneur?
Heerlen is a unique city with a unique culture and a distinctive flavour palette. This creates an excellent opportunity to develop regional products inspired by Heerlen’s historical identity. We lived and worked in ’s-Hertogenbosch for many years and saw the impact of the famous Bossche bol. Heerlen deserves its own ‘Bossche bol’ as well.
Where did you find your inspiration?
During the Roman period, Heerlen was renowned for its pottery industry. No fewer than six kilns have been excavated in recent years. One of these discoveries was Lucius’ jar, found in a kiln at Tempsplein in Heerlen. On the rounded surface of the jar is an inscription stating that Lucius made the jar for his beloved Amaka.
How did the idea take shape and what was the final product?
We chose a tongue-teasing praline (dark, white or milk chocolate) filled with a smooth hazelnut praline. Just like in love, you first bite through the slightly firmer chocolate shell, before enjoying the pure essence of nature inside: a deeply roasted hazelnut praline paste. It has a rich, full nutty flavour, neither too bitter nor too sweet, referring to a passionate love full of surprises.
The shape of the praline — a small jar — refers to the oldest love story in the Netherlands. After all, the Roman Lucius personally made this jar for his beloved Amaka.
And you chose Belgian chocolate?
Indeed, we attach great importance to product quality, and Belgians are simply masters in working with cocoa. The cocoa may arrive at the port of Amsterdam, but to buy the finished product you go to Antwerp. We work together with an Antwerp chocolatier who produces the pralines using delicious Callebaut chocolate.
And the text on the jar?
Of course, the entire text from the original Lucius jar cannot be reproduced on a praline. That is why we chose to connect it to the redevelopment of the new Raadhuisplein in Heerlen. In the design of this square, the city of Heerlen has fully embraced Roman stories, including the love story of Lucius and Amaka.
The texts from the Lucius jar will be incorporated into seating elements, and opposite Raadhuisplein a modern reference to the love between Lucius and Amaka will be created. This will allow newly married couples, as they leave the wedding hall at Raadhuisplein, to take a beautiful photograph by the inscription as a symbol of good fortune for their future journey together.
The heart of this inscription appears on our praline, creating a direct link with Raadhuisplein and the weddings that will take place in Heerlen. Ideally, every newly married couple will receive Lucius’ Love Jar as a gift and a bringer of good luck.
With heart and soul, we proudly share:
‘Heerlen, the city of love of the Netherlands.’
