A World of Chocolate – The Sweetest Tour
We were reading the CNN.com travel section today when the word chocolate caught our attention. Of course, when does chocolate not do that, but the story about Koln and its many sites inspired us to collect a list of chocolate-related sites in Europe to visit the next time you’re abroad and jonesing for something sweet. There are specialized tours geared toward chocolate exploration – you can travel from cafe to chocolatier to cafe again, sampling and savoring cacao across the countryside. Or, if you’re itinerary is already set and you’re looking for a diversion until the next stop, there are a few sidetracks you can make.
We must admit, we had a bit of fun researching this article, and now our stomachs are growling, so while we break for the stash of Kit-Kats under the desk we’ll leave you to consider these tours and attractions next time you’re in Europe.
The name is known the world over for their creamy milk bars and seasonal cream-filled eggs, and when you come to Cadbury World in Birmingham it’s probably the closest you’ll get to spotting an Oompah Loompah or two running the show. This is a whimsical journey through the production, packaging and marketing of Cadbury varieties – full of fascinating history and surprises. How many factories do you know have a simulated jungle to explain where cocoa comes from?
You’ve seen Ritter Sport brands, those square, waffle-thick bars filled with whole hazelnuts, marzipan, or dreamy dark mousse. In Waldenbuch near Stuttgart is where you’ll find new bars produced, and at the factory you can watch a demonstration in German and English of how Ritter Sport varieties are made, plus stock up for the ride home! There are nearly 20 different bars available now, so if you find one you can’t normally find in your area, get ‘em while you can!
Of course, if you’re headed to Belgium this year it’s a given you’re going to enjoy some chocolate. You wouldn’t go to Philadelphia without eating a cheesesteak, or Chicago without trying a deep dish pizza, right? In Brussels, there is Planète Chocolat, fine purveyor of chocolates created in the grand Belgian tradition. Guests are welcome to browse their chocolate museum and discover how cacao is pressed into cocoa to become the dessert we all love, and if you have time you can schedule a chocolate history walking tour through the city.
Bovetti Shop and Chocolate Museum
Pop quiz: can you think of 150 different ingredients to infuse in a chocolate bar? Bovetti Artisan Chocolatier bear the Bordeaux region of France has, and when you visit their shop/museum you’ll see for yourself what flavors await you. From rosemary to mango to even flower petals, surely if it’s edible they’ve enrobed it at one time.
Bovetti’s chocolate museum takes visitors through an actual greenhouse of cocoa plants where one can see a demonstration of harvesting, roasting, and production. You’ll learn why single-origin varieties (chocolate produced from cacao from one region) tastes differently from other types, and kids have the opportunity to mold their own tasty treat.
Wherever in Europe you find yourself this year, you’re certain to find a chocolate indigenous to the area that carries the unique flavor of the region. With the money you save on affordable European hotels, you can take plenty home as gifts, assuming you don’t eat everything on the trip back.
Not that we’ve done that before.
