FOOD & SHOPPING

Best Places For Chocolate Lovers

Prachi Joshi

Last updated: Apr 3, 2017

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Are you reading this on an empty stomach? Grab a bite quickly as this one is going to make you crave for some chocolaty treats! Made from Theobroma cacao beans, chocolate has been around for centuries and has often been touted as ‘the food of gods’. So which are the best places for chocolate lovers?

Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA

chocoate lover — Hershey's Chocolate World in Pennsylvania

Living up to its moniker of ‘the sweetest place on earth’, Hershey is synonymous with the famous chocolate made there. In fact, Hershey is not a city in itself; it was established as a model town for the workers of Hershey’s chocolate factory. Today Hershey is a complete family entertainment place where your kids can have fun at the many rides and roller coasters at Hersheypark, while you get pampered at The Chocolate Spa. Hershey’s Chocolate World is what Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory had conjured up – see how chocolate is made, go on a tasting adventure and even create your own candy!

Brussels, Belgium

Known for its fine artisanal chocolate, Belgium is one of the best places for chocolate lovers. This small country is home to some premier brands – Callebaut, Cote d’Or and Guylian. Apart from gorging on chocolates in Brussels, you can check out the Chocolate Museum, take a guided chocolate tour at La Maison du Chocolat or attend a chocolate making class from one of Belgium’s master chocolatiers such as Laurent Gerbaud. Chocolate is so entrenched in Belgium that last year, to honour its national delicacy, the Belgian Post Office issued five stamps that smell and taste of chocolate!

Kilchberg and Zurich, Switzerland

switzerland chocolate — Lindt chocolates in Switzerland

One of the most recognisable brands of chocolate is Lindt, with its factory in Kilchberg. Take a tour of the chocolate factory and then stop by the shop for great discounts on Lindt chocolates. Back in Zurich, visit Confiserie Café Sprüngli on Paradeplatz for their cocoa-dusted truffle cakes and delicate macarons called Luxemburgerli. And if you crave more chocolate, try Zurich’s best hot chocolate at Café Schober.

Cologne, Germany

germany chocolate — A tour of the Chocolate Museum is a must in Cologne

Sitting pretty on the Rhine riverside, near the medieval Old Town is the Imhoff-Stollwerck Museum, or the Chocolate Museum at Cologne. What started as an exhibit to celebrate 150 years of Stollwerck Chocolate, became so popular that it was converted into a museum in 1993. Take a self-guided tour - from the cultivation of cacao plant to the finished product. Later, sample some chocolates and on your way out don't forget to go to the gift shop to carry back home some delicious souvenirs.

Ooty, India

ooty chocolate — Indulge in delicious home made chocolates in Ooty

The hill stations of India have always been known for their unique, home made chocolates. And Ooty, the Queen of Hill Stations, has some of the best varieties. More chewy than the commercial ones, Ooty chocolates are satisfyingly rich and very popular with the kids. One of my favourite memories of a summer vacation to the Nilgiris is that of walking to Mall Road everyday and getting a handful of the goodies to savour through the day. Try Moddy’s Chocolates, amongst the oldest chocolate makers in Ooty.

New York, USA

new york chocolate — M & M World at Times Square, NYC

The Big Apple is home to several top-end chocolate shops. When in New York, you absolutely must visit Jacques Torres’ boutiques, where you can watch chocolate being made and sample some delectable offerings. In SoHo you’ll find the boutique chocolate shop Kee’s as well as the artful creations of MarieBelle. And if you’re in the mood to splurge, the 2-hour New York City Luxury Chocolate Tour is for you! The Hershey's Building and M & M World at Times Square, NYC are also must visits for any chocolate lover.

Tabasco & Oaxaca, Mexico

mexico chocolate — Hot Chocolate - The drink to savour in Oaxaca

Mexico has a vibrant chocolate culture and hot Chocolate is THE drink to savour in Oaxaca. Head to Mina Street and get intoxicated by the heady aroma of chocolate, which is mixed with milk or water and whipped up to foamy perfection. Try it with a piece of pan de yema (egg yolk bread) best savoured by dunking your bread in the chocolate! The other place in Mexico that is famous for chocolate is Tabasco – the town that has become synonymous with the hot chilli sauce. There are small cacao farms located deep into the forests, where you can get a guided tour and watch chocolate being made.

Accra & Tafo, Ghana

ghana chocolate — Ghana is the world’s second largest producer of cacao beans

Ghana is the world’s second largest producer of cacao beans, and the first cacao seeds were planted by Tetteh Quarshie over a 100 years ago. You can visit the first plant at Quarshie’s farm near Accra, where you can learn about cocoa production in the country. Also visit the Cocoa Research Institute in Tafo, which has model farms, a golf course and a bar as well. Alternatively, you can take a package that covers all the spots in a well-organised half-day tour.

Barcelona, Spain

spain chocolate — Try churros (fried fingers of dough) dipped in a thick, hot chocolate in Barcelona

Spain was the first European country to come in contact with chocolate during its conquest in the New World. The drink quickly became popular with the nobility and continues to remain the preferred beverage for breakfast! In Barcelona try the churros (fried fingers of dough) dipped in a thick, hot chocolate or a croissant de xocolata (chocolate croissant) – both widely available at most granja (café). Visit Granja Dulcinea where you can get soft, cake-like melindres again dunked in hot chocolate or head to Cacao Sampaka for their sweet & spicy 80%-cacao Asteca hot chocolate.

Turin, Italy

italy chocolate — CioccolaTò – a week-long celebration of chocolate before Easter in Turin

The fascinating city of Turin was the first capital of Italy when it became a unified country and is not very often on the tourist trail. My main reason for visiting the city was to sample its legendary chocolate. The thick, dark cioccolato caldo (hot chocolate) at the historic Caffè Torino is the real deal. You can also try the al bicerin at Caffè Al Bicerin – a delicious concoction of espresso, hot chocolate and cream. And that’s not all; Turin hosts the annual CioccolaTò – a week-long celebration of chocolate before Easter, with a chocolate factory set up in Piazza Vittorio Veneto and a delicious treasure hunt looking for gianduiotti (boat-shaped hazelnut flavoured chocolates).

Book one of MakeMyTrip’s special packages and catch a flight to experience your favourite chocolicious holiday!

Comments

Sweet Bites | on 09 May 2019

Hey, Nice Blog!! Yes it's perfectly said chocolate has often been touted as ‘the food of gods’. I visited to Ooty, India . It is best place for homemade chocolates. The chocolates are so delicious. Can say they are mouth watering chocolates.