I don’t really have a sweet tooth, but that doesn’t stop me being a chocolate fiend (especially if it’s in a cheesecake!). During a recent visit to Switzerland, I found the chocolate overwhelming, in every aspect. There are so many choices and ways to experience Swiss chocolate it seems. You can even create your own.
Apparently, the average chocolate consumption by each citizen in Switzerland is estimated at about 12kg of chocolate a year. It’s easy to understand why.
Which variety?
Lindt and Nestle are the well known names. Others such as Mondelez are better known for their Toblerone product.
It seems that Switzerlands chocolate export is much greater than its actual import of cocoa beans. With many makers and numerous chocolatiers they must be doing something right. Although it’s apparently the milk from the cows enjoying the lush green grass that ensures such a high quality chocolate production.
Even after tasting most of different brands as we travelled around the country, I’m still undecided on which is my favourite. There are some amazing but expensive choices. Then there are the more affordable, almost as tasty, brands from the supermarket. When it comes to prices the Frey is the best and it’s what most locals will tell you they buy.
Chocolate makers and chocolatiers
There are currently 18 manufacturers of chocolate in Switzerland. Each processes raw cacao beans in order to produce chocolate, often for use by the chocolatier. Some also produce their own brands.
Long gone are most of the small producers of chocolate. The mass production requires factories and machines. Very little is processed by traditional means.
The chocolatiers are the more creative businesses or individuals who create chocolates for retail purchase. Find them in shopping malls or along the street, and of course at the airport.
Experiences
There are so many ways to experience chocolate across Switzerland. From visitor centres to museums. Creating some of your own is a must if you have the time. Here is a summary of the main brands and the experiences on offer:
Maison Cailler, Broc
Dating back to 1891, this is the oldest manufacturer of chocolate in Switzerland.
Visitors centre covers: Family history; chocolate making facts; live chocolate production; tasting (eat as much as you like). Workshops also available.
Ticket price: 15 CHF.
Läderach, Bilten
Best known for the carefully stacked broken slabs of artisan chocolate and experimental flavours.
Currently only offering guided tours (whilst some construction is in progress).
Tours include: Origin of cocoa beans; production process and a peek inside the facility; tasting. Scheduled tours in German and English.
Ticket price: 15 CHF.
Lindt & Sprüngli, Kilchberg
If you are a fan of pralines, one of their workshops is a must, but it’s not cheap so I recommend just visiting their shops:
Lindt – Guided tours are no longer available at the factory, but the store is a good place to indulge. Look for the cheap imperfect chocolates on sale here. There’s nothing wrong with them, just cosmetic damage during packaging.
We visited during the run up to Easter…
Sprüngli – As well as chocolates, their stores offer luxury pastries, confectionery and ice cream. Most famous for its small Luxemburgerli, which are small macarons in all kinds of flavors.
Camille Bloch, Courtelary
This company manufactures 2 of my favourites, Ragusa and Torino, so a visit here gets my first vote.
Visitor Centre: museum covering company history in detail, interactive experiences and access to production plus tasting. Workshops available.
Ticket price: 15 CHF.
Chocolat Frey, Buchs
Not particularly well known outside of Switzerland, but a big player. Their chocolate can be found stacked in the Migros supermarkets across the country. This is what many of the locals would recommend.
Visitors Centre: Interactive museum, chocolate making process; smelling and tasting. Workshops also available.
Ticket price: 12 CHF
Aeschbach, Root
A fairly young company which produces Bsetzistei (cobblestones)and chocolate coins. Depending on the season of a visit, there’s always something different to see in the production area.
Chocoworld: Interactive tour through the history of chocolate; smelling and tasting. Workshops available.
Ticket price: 15 CHF
Funky Chocolate Club, Interlaken
Not a factory or a manufacturer, but a great place to enjoy making chocolate. We tried one of their workshops due to bad weather in Interlaken, and it was good fun. With as much as you can eat chocolate, you get to make and personalise 3 bars using different creative techniques. I couldn’t resist!
If you don’t fancy a workshop, make sure you stop by and try their hot chocolate, great after a day in the mountains.
There are many more places to experience and create chocolate in Switzerland, so do share any recommendations.
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