Chocolate Destinations Around the World to Drool Over

These five places from Belgium to Hong Kong offer their own enticing takes on the confection

The mouthwatering nature of chocolate is one constant no matter where you go. (Miriam Schmidt/dpa/Corbis)

By Laura Kiniry

smithsonian.com
February 11, 2015

Let's face it: our love affair with chocolate knows no bounds. The sometimes sweet confectionary is so popular worldwide that it's even inspired its own kind of tourism. If you've ever spent a night like Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, dreaming of what delicious cocoa delicacies await behind closed doors, you're in luck. These five countries will more than satisfy your cravings:

Switzerland

Switzerland is one of the world's top chocolate consumers—with the average resident consuming about 20 pounds of chocolate a year. The country is home to gourmet chocolatiers such as Teuscher, as well as iconic chocolate purveyors like Nestle and Lindt. Summer is the height of Switzerland’s chocolate tourism, when thousands of visitors embark a round-trip aboard the Chocolate Train. This day-long excursion from Montreux to Gruyeres and back includes a stop at the Cailler-Nestle Chocolate Factory in Broc. While the train only operates from June through October, you can still visit the factory on your own year-round (though it's closed from March 2 to March 20, 2015). Hour-long tours include a history of chocolate and a walk through the production facilities, as well as an opportunity to sample the goods.