"Darrell Lea Chocolates" Top 5 Page for this destination Brisbane Local Custom Tip by thedouglas

Aussies love chocolates almost as much as beer and vegemite! This chocolate is uniquely Australian, and has always been privately owned by the Lea family.

Darrell Lea started his confectionary business in 1926, from Perth, where he made Bulgarian Rock (which they still make) and sold it from a pushcart. He later moved to Sydney, and started a fruit and vegetable business. When this failed to succeed, he started making and selling Bulgarian Rock and then Peanut Brittle from the back of his shop. Very soon, the fruit and vegies gave way to the chocolate and confectionary shop.

The first dedicated Darrell Lea chocolate and confectionary shop was opened in 1928 in Sydney. The business grew rapidly, and usually the stock was sold out by early afternoon, when they went back home to start cooking for the next day.

In 1966, Maurice Lea opened 2 stores in Brisbane, and personally delivered fresh goodies to the stores until his retirement at the age of 90! The business remains family owned, and many still work in the expanded company.

There are 75 Lea outlets, and roughly 475 others, run by independent operators. They now make 500 regular products, and an additional 60 are available for special occasions, such as Christmas and Easter. The range of goodies is beautiful, and all Aussies have their favourites.

A specialty of the range is the ever expanding array of soft Liquorice! Who would have thought apple or blackberry liquorice would be just beautiful! Once you've eaten Darrell Lea liquorice, you will reject any other.