Chocolate Lovers, You Need To Eat Your Way Through These Cities
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Flickr/Allie Caulfield
Calling all chocoholics! This is the ultimate chocolate-lovers travel bucket list.
Whether you prefer milk, dark or white, these destinations around the world are sure to satisfy your every craving – and teach you a bit about the craft too.
But leave plenty of room in your suitcase. You’re going to want space to bring home oodles of delicious chocolate souvenirs.
1. Bruges, Belgium
Flickr/Dimitris Kamaras
Belgian chocolate is the gold standard for rich treats. You’ll find two major varieties: truffles (soft chocolates filled with buttercream) and pralines (hard chocolates stuffed with creative yummy fillings).
Bruge has a chocolate museum, unofficial chocolate mafia – to keep prices fair – and it’s one of the most well-preserved medieval towns in Europe. It’s well worth the delicious trip.
Shops worth a taste include:
Bring home: An affordable bar (or five) of Côte d’Or from any Belgian supermarket.
2. Oaxaca, Mexico
Oaxaca has two dueling chocolate draws and neither variety comes in bar form. The Mexican city is famous for both its hot chocolate and signature mole.
The hot chocolate is a creamy, frothy drink flavored with cinnamon. Oaxacan mole negro is a rich sauce, made with hot chiles, chocolate, sesame seeds and a massive amount of savory spices.
You should sample both at:
Bring home: Boxes of Mayordomo drinking chocolate.
3. Tain L’Hermitage, France
Flickr/Lee McCoy
Home to the beloved-by-chefs Valhrona chocolate, Tain L’Hermitage is a destination for anyone who loves a glass of wine with their cocoa dessert.
Patisserie pros craft their skills in the culinary schools in town, but there are also classes for the average chocolate fan.
Try your hand at:
Bring home: A bar of Valhrona, of course. Maybe a dark and a milk?
4. San Francisco, California, U.S.
You’ve had the classic squares, but have you visited Ghirardelli’s headquarters in San Francisco? It’s a genuine chocoholic mecca.
It’s basically a one-stop answer to everything chocolate. You’ll get your fill here.
Don’t miss Ghirardelli Square’s:
- Original Chocolate Manufactory
- Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop
Bring home: A stash of your favorite Ghirardelli squares. (Dark chocolate caramel sea salt, anyone?)
5. Broc, Switzerland
Flickr/Active Steve
While you can grab some Milka chocolate around the world these days, the ultimate Swiss chocolate destination is Broc. La Maison Cailler is one of the biggest manufacturers in the country and claims to be the oldest, too.
If you tour Cailler, beware: Samples are offered all the way along the production line, but the best nibbles are at the end.
Save room for:
- The Aztec cocoa ceremony
- Your own concoctions from Atelier du Chocolat
- The pralines and truffles at the end of the factory tour
Bring home: A box of creative truffles with a variety of fillings.
6. Villajoyosa, Spain
Literally named “joyful village,” Villajoyosa in Spain is what chocoholic dreams are made of. The coastal town has beautiful beaches and three chocolate factories. What more can a traveler need?
Pro tip: Sample some of the local chocolate on a fresh churro.
Go behind-the-scenes at:
Bring home: Anything from Chocolates Valor.
7. Hershey, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Flickr/Jim the Photographer
America’s candy amusement park is located outside Hershey, Pennsylvania. Yes, the destination is also named for the chocolate company.
Get a thrill on candy-themed rides, make your own chocolate bar or get a cocoa facial at one of the Hershey’s spots around town.
Choose from chocolate experiences at:
Bring home: Literally everyone’s favorite candy. How can you even choose?
8. London, United Kingdom
If you’re a cocoa aficionado, look no further than the English capital. The artisanal chocolate scene is booming in London.
There’s not really one variety here. Chocolatiers are experimenting with fancy truffles, gooey lava cakes and uber high quality beans.
Get in on the new-wave goodness at:
Bring home: At least one super posh bar from any of the top shops.
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