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Every chocolate lover, regardless of whichever part of the world he/she inhabits, has dreamt of visiting Switzerland at least once in their lives. The country is a home to many luxurious chocolate brands and Swiss chocolates continue to be the most sought-after chocolates of all times. So, what is about their chocolates that make them one of a kind, their special skill that the chocolatiers around the world envy? Let’s find out.
A Sweet History
Did you know chocolate was not views as a food of indulgence for many years after its discovery. It was hailed for its medicinal properties but rarely was it used to make decadent desserts. The Swiss, in a way, helped popularise this facet of chocolate, making it an irresistibly indulgent titbit that appeals to all age groups.
The nation’s history of chocolate making goes back centuries in time. About 200 years ago, François-Louis Cailler opened the first mechanized chocolate factory in Vevey in 1819. Cailler who himself was a trainee in Ticino with Italian chocolatiers brought all his skill and expertise to his modest factory. This proved to be a landmark chapter in the history of Swiss chocolate making. Till today, many local chocolatiers take pride in working on recipes that have been handed down to them through generations.
In the year 1887, while developing a chocolate recipe, Daniel Peter ended up creating a formula of what was to be the world’s first milk chocolate! Throughout history, there have been many such breakthroughs by the Swiss chocolatiers. The Swiss also played an instrumental role in teaching the world many new techniques that would change the course of dessert making, such as chocolate tempering, conching and giving new textures to chocolates.
The Famous Chocolate Tours Of Switzerland
The ‘chocolate tours’ is one of the most popular tourist activities in the Switzerland. These chocolate tasting tours are hosted across Zurich, Bern and Basel. One of the most adventurous chocolate tours have to be the one to Lavaux, on this tour the participants go on a hike and learn more about the history of chocolate-making while savoring some delectable Grand Cru pralines en-route. A quick tour to Funky Chocolate in Interlaken could fulfil your lifelong dream to make chocolates. That’s right you are given the apron and required ingredients to create a personalised chocolate master piece in this factory. Apart from this, there is a whole train by the Montreux-Berner Oberland railway dedicated to chocolate and history lovers. The train that runs between Montreux and the Cailler-Nestlé chocolate factory at Broc has many delectable surprises enroute and essential pitstops to satiate your most intense chocolate cravings.
Here’s wishing you all a very Happy Chocolate Day. Although it looks like every day is a ‘chocolate day’ in Switzerland
