It's all about chocolate

Chocoholic holidays around the world

Thursday, 10, Sep 2009 10:02

The Easter holidays are a long way off but it's never a bad time to be thinking about chocolate. This week designers at Warwick University even announced a car capable of running off the stuff.

But for those who can't get enough of the world's favourite aphrodisiac in everyday life, there are innumerable changes to indulge your passion with holiday as well.

Here's travelbite.co.uk's round up of the best chocolate-inspired holidays around the world.

Where it all began, Mexico

In Oaxaca, in south-eastern Mexico, the centuries-old tradition of chocolate making is still going strong today, with Oaxacans each apparently consuming 5.5 pounds of the stuff on average per year.

The 'drink of the gods' is how they term chocolate here in Mexico and it is used not just in food but as a popular beverage.

There are a number of chocolate factories in Oaxaca, mostly around Calle Mina, where you can watch workers mix the chocolate and taste the condensed form of an ancient treat.

Check out the Abastos Market for artisan chocolate stalls and follow the locals to Chocolate Mayordomo at one of its two locations in town - don't forget to try the chocolate corn.

The home of fine chocolate, Belgium

Belgium is the undisputed top chocolate-producing country in the world and any chocoholic worth their salt will know Neuhaus, Leonidas, Corne Port Royal, and Godiva - all Belgium chocolate-making institutions.

The Belgian praline - a chocolate layer covering a soft centre - is at the heart of Belgian chocolate's reputation. The story goes that the Duke of Plessis-Pralin, an ambassador to Louis XIII, is responsible for naming pralines. He ordered the creation of a sweet treat to distract the rebels of Bordelais. The chocolate shell is filled with cream or nut pastes.

There are four chocolate museums for afficionados to visit in Belgium - in Brussels, Halle, Eupen, and Bruges.

To sit down and enjoy, visit the Wittamer Café, a 100-year-old, family-owned chocolate-making business in the Sablon district of Brussels.

Once a luxury product only enjoyed by the wealthy, Belgian chocolates are a decadence we can all now share.

Chocolate trail, Boston

For those heading to Boston in September, the Chocolate Bar at the Langham Hotel is celebrating the city's famously diverse neighbourhoods with the 21st annual Boston chocolate trail - set to include a wonderland of chocolate creations.

New pastry chef Jed Hackney will be making gourmet bite-size desserts from Chinatown, the North End, Faneuil Hall, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, the South End, and Fenway Park.

Desserts from Boston's chocolate trail include Bittersweet Chocolate Chestnut Mousse, an assortment of Italian Cookies and Zuccotto from the Italian North End.

Or try chocolate croissant bread pudding, Boston cream pie and chocolate paple pecan tartlets from Faneuil Hall; dessert sushi in mango, strawberry, chocolate and green tea flavours as well as five spice chocolate soup and mango and white chocolate pudding from Chinatown; and Homemade crackerjacks with dark caramel, peanuts and sea salt, chocolate covered peanuts and ice cream sandwiches from Fenway Park.

Cocoa Festival, St Lucia

The beautiful Caribbean island of St Lucia is host to a wonderful chocolate festival this December 4th-6th. So put the mince pies to one side and indulge in some pre-Christmas, cocoa fuelled extravagance at the Jade Mountain Estate Cocoa Festival.

The history of Cocoa in St Lucia dates back to the early 1700's - the cocoa trees (over 1,000 of them) were established on the Anse Mamin and Emerald estates. For years they have been consistently harvested and supplied to the local market.

Activities throughout the festival of course feature a prominent chocolate theme, guests are frequently treated with various, unexpected, chocolate, culinary delights such as chocolate-inspired canapés and iced chocolate chai.

The main activity of the festival is an actual exploration of Nick Troubetzkoy's Emerald Estate Cocoa Plantation which includes discovering an insight in to the production of cocoa beans - try your hand at a bit of pod-picking or fermenting if you wish.

Chocolate-themed hotel, Bournemouth

Immortalise yourself in chocolate at a chocolate portrait painting session run by top chocolatier Gerry Wilton, who owns and runs the world's first chocolate themed hotel.

At Gerry's unique Grade II listed Chocolate Boutique Hotel in Bournemouth, you can learn how to paint a portrait of yourself in dark, milk and white chocolate; stay in chocolate-themed rooms; and indulge in the culinary art of making delicious Belgian truffles by hand at one of Gerry's Chocolate Delight workshops.

There are also chocolate fountains, a chance to learn all about the history of chocolate and a Chocolate Bar, where you can treat yourself to a glorious handmade chocolate cocktail.

You can even learn how to match chocolate with wine and spirits in a unique chocolate tasting session inspired by the famous Belgian chocolatier Laurent Gerbaud, whose range of chocolates is designed to be eaten and tasted with wines such as Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as mulled wines, dessert wines and malt whisky.

Italian Chocolate Festival, Perugia

Chocoholics should head to the Italian region of Umbria between October 16th and 25th for the popular Eurochocolate Festival of Perugia and enjoy the exhibitions, cooking classes, tastings and celebrations of all things chocolatey.

The medieval city of Perugia also boasts magnificent architecture, the splendid Piazza Quattro Novembre and its Great Fountain and the chic shopping street, Corso Vannucci.

Cocoa delicacies, Sicily

For something a little different, head for Noto, the golden city of the late Sicilian baroque. Here you will find the famous local chocolate made solely of cocoa, sugar and spices, from peperoncino to bergamot, vanilla and carob tree.

Also try the Gremolade with wild strawberries or almond from Ciaceri ice cream shop, or buy it from the Antica Dolceria Bonajuto.

Noto was defined by the art historian Cesare Brandi as the "garden of stone" for the beauty and uniqueness of its churches and palaces, moulded in the local stone.

For good eating Hotel Palazzo Failla has one Michelin star and ten rooms of great charm.

travelbite.co.uk staff