Stamps that taste, smell like chocolate

The Belgium postal service (known as ‘bpost’) has announced the release of a series of five postage stamps carrying both the smell and taste of chocolate. A limited edition of stamp sheets will be issued on March 25 to honor the different forms of the world famous Belgian chocolate.

The stamps are printed on UPM Raflatac’s Tropimatic Chocolate paper. The scent of chocolate comes from an aroma which has been added to the printing inks, and the taste of dark chocolate is based on cocoa oil released from the gummed adhesive layer when the stamp is licked.

According to Pierre Leempoel, director of printing at bpost, “These are the first stamps in the world that have a taste in addition to scent. They are the result of close cooperation with partners from Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and UPM Raflatac in Switzerland.”