Sometimes stereotypes are true and the one about Switzerland being the land of chocolate is spot on. Chocolate is one of Switzerland’s main exports. However, even though chocolate is a major export, 54% of Swiss chocolate is consumed by the Swiss. In fact, Switzerland has the highest rate of chocolate consumption per capita in the world! That’s a hard title to beat.

Chocolate started being produced in Switzerland in the 17^th century after production methods, which originated in Italy, were established by the likes of Francois-Louis Callier, Philippe Suchard, Rodolphe Lindt, Jean Tobler and Henri Nestlé.

Swiss chocolate is famous for its smooth texture and refined taste. Milk chocolate, a Swiss invention, is famous because of the cream and milk derived from Swiss cows. While most of the other chocolate ingredients are imported, the dairy element is pure Swiss milk.

Like cheese in France, each region in Switzerland has its own style of chocolate making, in both taste and presentation. Benre is famous for its chocolate bears and the Jura Mountain region is known for its chocolate watches. Chocolate is also seasonal in Switzerland: Spring brings chocolate flowers, with Easter come chocolate bunnies, and Fall has chocolate mushrooms and chestnuts.

Here six activities that will fill your chocolate urges when in Switzerland:

1. The Alprose Chocolate Museum, Chocolate Alprose SA, Via Rompada 36, 6987 Caslano. The museum presents the history of chocolate, from cacao plants to productions. The entrance to the museum includes free chocolate tasting.

2. Maestrani Swiss Chocolate Ltd., Toggenburgerstrasse 41, CH-9230 Flawil SG. Visitors can tour Schoggiland during opening hours and get a glimpse into Maestrani’s chocolate secrets. You get to see the factory from an 80 meter high visitor’s gallery and of course you get to taste a lot of chocolate.
3. Chocolate Baths, Day Spa, 4 Passage de Lions, Geneva, 1204. You can either have a chocolate bath or wrap at the “After the Rain” Day Spa in Geneva. Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, has anti-oxidant properties, and softens and moistens skin. It’s a bit pricey but chocolate fans will appreciate it.
4. Escalade Festival, December 1^st, Old Street of Geneva. This festival is not chocolate-focused but one of the events is the chocolate cauldrons. According to legend, during the defeat of the Catholic troops of Savoy in 1602, cauldrons of boiling soup were poured over the soldier’s while they were trying to scale the walls. In remembrance of this, chocolate cauldrons are made and then filled with marzipan vegetables. They are then smashed open to the cries of ‘Death to the enemies of the Republic!’
5. Versoix Chocolate Festival, March 8^th, 2008, Versoix, Switzerland. Just outside Geneva, the Versoix Chocolate Festival is a dream come true for any one with a sweet tooth. The festival is free and focuses on the industry of chocolate. Besides being home to the festival, Versoix also hosts two of the world’s most famous chocolate producers: Cartier and Favarger. In previous years there have been special buses and boats planned for the day to take visits to Versoix from Geneva’s center.
6. Swiss Chocolate Train, Tel: +41 21 989 81 90. The train only runs from June to October. The tradiational-style train runs from Montreux down to Gruyeres and Broc. The trip includes a visit of the cheese factory in Gruyeres and a taste tour of the Cailler-Netlé factory near Broc.

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