Belgian team makes world's longest eclair

A team of about 20 confectioners gathered in Verviers, Liège province, on Sunday morning and spent three hours creating the longest filled chocolate eclair ever made. They set a new world record with the 676m-long eclair. The feat will not make it into the Guinness Book of World Records, however, as the creators did not apply for the official recognition, writes De Standaard.

Master chocolatier Jean-Philippe Darcis was nonetheless pleased with his team's accomplishment. Between 3,000 and 3,500 spectators attended the record attempt.

The eclair was made using 750 kilos of raw materials in total, including 70kg of butter, 2,000 eggs, 50kg of flour and 300 litres of water. The cost of the ingredients, about €1,500, was totally covered by sponsors. After the record attempt, the giant eclair was cut in 6,000 pieces and sold for a good cause.

Because the Belgian team never submitted an application for admission into the Guinness Book of World Records, the official record remains in the hands of a confectioner from Valais, Switzerland, for his eclair measuring 503m. But the Liège team wants to make a new attempt in two years, aiming for an eclair of 1,000m.