Chocolate you must try, buy and keep a supply, tips from The Women’s Travel Group.
Chocolate ginger pieces or cookies: a common combo in Great Britain including Scotland. Ginger was imported from India to ancient Rome, then to Britain and ultimately became a colonial favorite. Chocolate ginger cookies can be supermarket level or gourmet from an upmarket store like Fortnum and Mason.
Chocolate with chili: The first time I ate a chocolate/chili bar was in Mexico City Airport. Chocolate with chili is made in Mexico by artisanal candy makers. In the US, buy it under the labels: Jacques Torres, Lindt etc. Kind also sells a chocolate ginger bar. But the ones in Mexico taste authentic: grainier chocolate with sharper chili. On our Yucatan trip, you will taste real chocolate beans, roasted, ground in front of you then sipped. You will have a hard time explaining the taste, it is so fresh.
Drinking chocolate: Paris has the richest cocoa, fancier versions are sold with heavy cream on the side. Besides famous Laduree and Angelina $$$$, most chocolate shops also sell hot cocoa and most breakfast buffets include it. On our Paris trip, we suggest you sample hot cocoa rather than cheap chocolate crepes sold on the street. Well, go eat those also.
Italy’s Amedei is one of the most expensive in the world. Flavors include the nuts of Sicily: pistachio, hazelnut and almond. What you will adore is the packaging: open them carefully and you might frame the wrapper. Amedei is sold both in Tuscany and in fancier stores in Sicily.
African chocolate is not widely sold under local brands. Bean to Bar; ie. local farmer directly to local processor, is offered by Afrikoa and a few on line. Again not widely sold even though most of the world’s chocolate comes from Africa.
Asians do not eat much of the world’s chocolates. Going with us to SE Asia? Try local chocolate filled with fruits/spices. Indonesia is one of the original ‘Spice Islands’. A new chocolate industry includes ginger, clove, cardamom, cinnamon, salt and pepper infused chocolates.
Consider looking for one of the following labels: FairTrade or similar or Bean to Bar. These logos come from FairTrade International and FairTrade Foundation UK
Travel Tips from chocolate lovers at https://thewomenstravelgroup.com/tours where you will find trips to all of the above chocolate tasting venues.
