5 (More) Chocolate Destinations
You Need to Taste

With the popularity of chocolate growing leaps and bounds due to its increasing health benefits, chocolate travel is becoming a niche you’ll want to get a taste of.

Belgium, Switzerland, France, Italy and the U.K. are five of the world’s top chocolate destinations, but where else will the chocolate trail take you? Here are five of the best resorts, chocolatiers and cafes for sampling chocolate treats.

Jade Mountain, St. Lucia

If you’re looking for the more exotic side of chocolate, look no further than St. Lucia, West Indies. St. Lucia is well known for the lustfully beautiful images of its twin peaks, the Pitons. Jade Mountain Resort is a five-star resort that promises a perfect view of the Pitons from every one of its private sanctuaries, complete with infinity pools and private butlers. And if you time your visit right, you can take in Jade Mountain’s Chocolate Festival, which runs December 13-16, 2012.

Hotel Chocolat, St. Lucia

Can’t make a December visit to St. Lucia but are interested in exploring its chocolate scene? Another choco-focused resort is the Hotel Chocolat, owned by the British chocolatier of the same name. Hotel Chocolat grows its own cacao to make its own chocolate, and features an exquisite cacao cuisine, showcased in the on-site Boucan Restaurant. Both resorts also offer chocolate spa treatments.

SOMA chocolatemaker, Toronto

If you’re looking for chocolate destinations a bit closer to home, Toronto and Vancouver both have some of Canada’s best. Toronto is home to SOMA chocolatemaker, with two locations: one in the trendy Distillery District and the other on King Street West, where you can watch chocolate creations being made right before your hungry eyes. SOMA sources its own cocoa beans from around the world and creates some of the most delectable chocolate creations on the planet. Canada’s largest city has many other chocolatiers to please your sweet tooth, but without question, the crème-de-la-crème is SOMA.

Thomas Haas, Vancouver

Over on Canada’s West Coast, there are two chocolatiers that are really turning heads. Thomas Haas has a location in North Vancouver and one in Kitsilano. Haas makes chocolates with a European flair and is also a top-notch pastry maker. Try the double chocolate croissants—but get there early, as those beauties always sell out.

Chocolate Arts, Vancouver

Vancouver is also home to Chocolate Arts, a fantastic chocolate shop on West 3rd Avenue that will dazzle you with such flavours as the Cleopatra, as well as the best champagne truffles you’ll find anywhere in Canada.

Niche travel has taken the world by storm, and chocolate travel has added a touch of bitter sweet to the quest for nirvana.

Come dine with us! We’re celebrating the harvest this month on Travel+Escape with a special series, CULINARY TRAVEL: GLOBAL FEAST!

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