Chocolate tasting is a highlight of any visit to Belgium. But, there’s another chocolate experience you can’t miss!
If you love chocolate like I do, Bruges, Belgium is definitely the city for you! They even have a chocolate festival in March sponsored by the Chocolate Guild.
Speaking of the Chocolate Guild, this organization certifies that chocolate sold in Bruges meets certain standards. Look for the distinctive Chocolate Guild logo outside the shop.
However, just because a chocolate shop isn’t part of the guild doesn’t mean the products are of poor quality. While most guild members make very good chocolate, some non-guild shops are excellent as well.
My number one favorite experience in Bruges is a visit to The Old Chocolate House. They have a little chocolate shop where you can buy all kinds of treats, but the place to go is upstairs to the tea room. Here you can sit down in a quaint space and enjoy a real cup of hot chocolate. No chocolate powder here!
Peruse the menu and choose a dark or milk chocolate. They have single origin chocolates from Costa Rica, Ecuador, Vietnam and other cacao growing countries as well as some blends and even a white chocolate.
Your order arrives with warm milk (plant-based milks available) and the chocolate bits on the side, served in an edible chocolate cup! Pour the chocolate in the milk, stir with the whisk, and you have the best hot chocolate ever!
Brent Petersen is the Editor-in-Chief of Destination Eat Drink. He currently resides in Setubal, Portugal. Brent has written the novel Truffle Hunt (Eckhartz Press) and the short story collection That Bird. He’s also written dozens of foodie travel guides to cities around the world on Destination Eat Drink, including an in-depth eating and drinking guide to Portugal. Brent’s podcast, also called Destination Eat Drink, is available on all major podcasting platforms.
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