We hoped you enjoyed our first installment of Around the World in Chocolatey Ways. We are now thrilled to be continuing our journey with you on the second leg of our adventure, so let’s get going!
If you want to know how we think chocolate should be done, come along to one of our chocolate courses or even go all out with one of our chocolate parties. However, if you’re interested in knowing how others do it elsewhere in the world, carry on reading…
Last month we took you through Mexico, Spain and England, this time let us transport you to the exquisite locations of Peru, France and Italy.
Peru
Home of the Inca tribe, the indigenous people of Peru have been using the Cocoa plant for centuries, long before the days of chocolate parties and workshops. These people chewed the Cocoa plant for essential strength to go about their daily treks and work in the mountains. Nowadays, the country is famous for its use of the plant to make yummy chocolate treats.
Chocolate made from real Peruvian cocoa is some of the most intense in the world, much like the rest of the country it is bold, impressive and totally unforgettable!
France
Perhaps more similar to the delicious chocolate you might learn to make at one of our chocolate making courses is that originating from France. Despite the fact you might perhaps hear more about chocolate from France’s neighbours, Switzerland and Belgium (to which we will pay a visit at a later date), the French chocolatier’s expertise is a very well-kept secret that needs sharing! Chocolate first arrived in France from Spain in 1615, when Anne of Austria, introduced the chocolate drink to her new husband, Louis XIII of France. The sweet treat was first popular among the court (who we’re sure loved chocolate parties), before it quickly took the rest of the country by storm and earned the love it enjoys today. The country favours very fine, very dark chocolate, perfect dipped in a delicious café au lait. The country even have their own chocolate academy – we wonder what they’d make of our own chocolate classes.
Italy
You could in fact argue that it is thanks to the Italians that we can enjoy chocolate at all, for it was the Italian explorer, Christopher Columbus, who first set eyes on a cocoa plant and introduced it to the continent. Now, all sorts of chocolatey treats can be found there, including many varieties of gelato al cioccolato (or chocolate ice cream to us and you.) The homes of Italian chocolate are said to be Turin and Piedmont, where, like with many other foods in Italy, chocolate is an art form.
Ok that’s all for week’s trip around the globe, thanks for joining us and see you next time!
