Chocolate is one of the greatest pleasures in the world, we can’t resist it and as human beings we’ve famously loved it since 450BC. Supermarkets and brands are always constantly finding new ways to reinvent and revitalise it, with new flavours and ingredients. However, it’s an experience that goes deeper than just tasting it, so we invite you to explore the wide range of exciting chocolatey experiences available all over the world.
Grenada
Our first chocolate experience can be found at Belmont Estate, the Caribbean’s finest Agri-tourism experience. Belmont Estate offers a so-called bean to bar experience in an authentic 17th century plantation. With the finest luxury and organic cocoa, it’s a unique and deeply rich experience. Try your hand at making your own chocolate as well as learning all about the richly unique journey chocolate goes on, from harvesting organic beans.
Bali
Bali has so much to offer for every kind of chocaholic- why not visit the Ubud Raw Chocolate factory in Ubud? They create organic, raw cacao, vegan chocolate with flavours ranging from goji berries, mint or nuts. If your chocolate addiction goes further than just eating, many places in Bali offer chocolate themed spa treatments. In Seminyak for example, Bali Spa offers a special chocolate-themed spa package. Packages can include a massage with natural cocoa cream, followed by chocolate/cinnamon body scrub and topped off with a creamy hot chocolate bath! Junglegold Factory even offers Pod Masterclasses in which you can follow a chocolate-making workshop and become an expert chocolate artisan. You can choose a gift box, specially pick your chocolate, select your toppings and start creating. Also if you have the willpower to save them, these boxes make a perfect gift for a loved one.
Madeira
Chocolatier Maria Joao Barros warmly welcomes you to her home for an exclusive Madeira Chocolate Workshop. Immerse yourself in the art of chocolate making, learning every detail of the processes, and tasting, in the intimate and comfortable surroundings of the home and garden. Treat yourself to a taste sensation.
St Lucia
Rabot Estate near Soufriere which is owned by the famous Hotel Chocolat offers a renowned ‘bean to bar’ tour. The tour boasts a mixture of the beauty of luxury chocolate alongside the realities and education of sustainable cacao farming. The tour takes you through the seedling nursery and rainforest canopy, where you will learn all about the various steps a cacao bean takes from seedling to delicious chocolate. You’ll finish by crafting your very own bars to take home. They also offer spa experiences such as cacao massages, cacao detox body wrap, body exfoliate and moisturise, facials, wild coffee scrubs and so much more.
Costa Rica
With Costa Rica experts, explore the countries agricultural culture and local traditions on this coffee tour just outside the La Fortuna area. The tour takes place on a beautiful farm, where you will learn all about coffee production. The farm prides itself on sustainable agriculture and all coffee is available to taste test. With high-quality organic chocolate and coffee at your fingertips, it’d be a shame not to!
Tuscany
Take a trip down the chocolate valley, no you did read that right! In Tuscany, the Chocolate Valley which is located between Pisa, Pistoia and Prato is home to the historic and multi award winning Amedei chocolate maker. If you stop off in Prato you can find the Pasticceria Mannori to have bars, pralines, cakes or even chocolate eggs made just for you! There are several chocolate exhibitions in the region held every year including Fiera del Cioccolato artigianale, in Florence with chefs and chocolatiers from all over Italy!
If you’re tempted by these destinations as much as the chocolate, call our expert travel consultants on 0800 047 1066 and a trip can be hand crafted for you.
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