FOOD TRAILS


ZÜRICH ROOT


BERN LUCERNE


MONTREUX


TAKE A SWISS CHOCOLATE TOUR


For those with a sweet tooth, the ideal trip to Switzerland may well begin with a bar of milk chocolate. But although Switzerland is famous for the smooth, creamy snack invented here in 1875, its cacao-based specialities come in many other forms, from dark chocolate pralines and pastries to cocktails and chocolat chaud. A third of the chocolate produced in Switzerland is consumed


within its borders (the Swiss eat an average of 11.7 kg per person each year — surely a sterling advert for what’s also arguably the country’s best-loved export). With the number of small, sustainability-focused, bean-to-bar chocolate-makers slowly increasing alongside the country’s multitude of high-quality, large-scale producers, there’s a wide range of excellent chocolate to be had here, and myriad ways in which to enjoy it. There’s no official Swiss chocolate trail, but this suggested


itinerary links up experiences that introduce chocolate-lovers to the history and culture of Swiss chocolate and showcases the breadth of Switzerland’s offering with visits to some of the country’s best- loved chocolatiers. The route winds its way south west from Zurich to Lake Geneva via the cities of Lucerne and the capital, Bern. Following the trail is straightforward by either car or train; the latter may be costly, but Swiss trains are the most reliable in Europe and the scenery they pass through is nothing short of spectacular. And if you need a break from all the sweet stuff, Swiss cheeses


are also well worth seeking out, as are the country’s wines. Summer is a great time to enjoy a spot of hiking or lake swimming between chocolate splurges, and for sitting outdoors at cafes. It’s worth timing the start of your trip with the annual, 11-day Food Zurich festival (foodzurich.com), which offers a programme of culinary events that includes cookery courses, food tours and unique dining experiences.


GETTING STARTED: Begin in Zurich with an exploration of the city’s numerous chocolate shops and a grand cru hot chocolate at the legendary Confiserie Sprüngli cafe (spruengli.ch). Head south west out of the city, stopping for a guided tour of the Aeschbach Chocolatier factory in Root, before arriving in Lucerne to join an exclusive tasting of the handmade pralines at the Max Chocolatier boutique (maxchocolatier.com). Continue west to Bern, the birthplace of Lindt, to take part in a chocolate and schnapps tour (chocobern.ch) before ending your travels in Montreux, where you can hike in the countryside by Lake Geneva accompanied by chocolatier Olivier Fuchs (olivierfuchs.ch). DON’T MISS: Anyone travelling in spring should extend their trip to Versoix, at the opposite end of Lake Geneva, for the annual Festichoc, Switzerland’s largest festival dedicated to chocolate. IN THE AIR: The world’s largest chocolate fountain was unveiled at Zurich’s Lindt Home of Chocolate (lindt-home-of-chocolate. com) in 2020 — by Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer. CD


52 NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.CO.UK/FOOD-TRAVEL


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