mountains & medicine.: How to Make Chocolate

The last time Ben and I visited the Gruyere, our visit included two fantastic sites- the Gruyere Castle and the Maison Gruyere, where the amazing gruyere cheese is made. Although my parents were excited to visit the gruyere cheese factory, we decided to swap a visit to Gruyere Castle for a tour of the Caillier chocolate factory, home to some of the absolute best Swiss chocolate.

(Side note: In case any one is planning a visit to Switzerland and would like to visit the Gruyere, I think it is possible to squeeze the Gruyere Castle, the Maison Gruyere and the Callier chocolate factory into one jam-packed day. Just make sure you leave super early and plan well! )

daddy + me: in broc-fabrique, home to the wonderful
callier chocolate factory.

Overall, the Callier factory was extremely well done. The exhibits took you through the history of chocolate, from the mystical Aztec beverage to the heights of seventeenth century French society to the popular treat we enjoy today. Rather than a dull museum, however, the exhibits reminded me of a Disney World ride- as you walked from room to room, lights, sounds, and moving scenes told you the interesting history of chocolate.

Of course, on of my favorite parts of the Callier factory is where you are able to see chocolate actually being made. We were able to follow the process, from raw cocoa beans to the assembly line to the packaging. The best part? At the very end, we were invited into a tasting room where we were able to sample some of Callier's best freshly-made creations! Delicious!