The Chocolate Museum You've Got To See Before You Die
Chocolate is one of life's greatest pleasures. The sweet has been enjoyed for millennia, ever since the ancient Mayans consumed it in the form of celebratory beverages, according to History. The origins of chocolate trace back thousands of years, and over time, we've been introduced to revolutionary recipes from all over the world. From cookies, cakes, and brownies to candies, ice creams, and sauces, chocolate is one of the most versatile, beloved foods of all time.
While chocolate is made and eaten just about everywhere, there's one city in Europe that prides itself on producing the best of the best. Brussels, Belgium is widely considered to be the World Capital of Chocolate, per The New York Times. If you ever get the chance to travel to Brussels, you might want to consider adding the Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate to your trip itinerary. If you do, you'll be in for a real treat. Literally.
The Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate in Belgium is a chocolate lover's dream
If you've ever been curious about where your favorite delectable ingredients come from, why not go straight to one of the world's premier sources? The culinary science and rich history behind chocolate is the focus of the Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate (Le Musée du Cacao et du Chocolat), located in the heart of Brussels, a city known for its passion for the deeply aromatic ingredient.
The three-story establishment features various exhibits themed around the long timeline of chocolate's expansion, including how prominent regions have infused it into their cultures and how cacao beans are transformed into the sweet delight we know and love. In the demonstration kitchen, patrons can get an exclusive, up-close view of how chocolate is made by real chocolatiers, then taste the freshly made confections (including pralines), according to the official Brussels website. Visitors can also browse a shop filled to the brim with delicious souvenirs to take home with them. As Belgian-born icon Audrey Hepburn once said, "Let's face it. A nice creamy chocolate cake does a lot for a lot of people; it does for me." This is history that's easy to digest.