16 December 2016
Imagine…..a charming and peaceful small university town, with a population of under a hundred thousand inhabitants.
Now, picture this town inundated with throngs of chocolate-crazed fans several days in a year – fans who live, eat, breathe and drink chocolate, united in a single passion. This becomes a reality each year in Tuebingen, during the annual ChocolART – Germany’s own festival dedicated to all things chocolate!
It’s not widely publicised compared to other more high profile chocolate events like the International Chocolate Awards, Eurochocolate, Salon du Chocolat, The Northwest Chocolate Festival or the World Chocolate Masters. However, the idea of visiting a new, lesser known town and broadening my knowledge on German chocolates highly appealed to me.
Fast forward to a few months later plus a lengthy journey of several days by planes and trains. Hubby and I are finally in Tuebingen and ready to take on ChocolART. Thanks to the insights provided by a friend who has previously lived in Tuebingen, we are well equipped for the adventure!
Everyone, and I mean everyone, gets into the spirit of ChocolART in Tuebingen. Restaurants, pubs and cafes feature special chocolate menus and beers. And other shops stay open till late to cater to the surge of tourists that descend on the town. The atmosphere is lively, buzzy, happy and super crowded, but everyone develops an extra dose of tolerance; in my opinion, attributed to the chocolates.
The cobbled stone streets snaking up to the Old Town are lined with stall after stall of chocolates and related products. From chocolate bars, filled chocolates/ pralines, cakes, biscuits, nougat and panforte to crepes, waffles, pancakes, traditional German treats, hot chocolate, chocolate beer and even chocolate jewellery! There are also chocolate workshops, tastings and chocolate art exhibitions. Essentially, something for everyone.
When the sun sets on the charming Old Town, a treat awaits its visitors. A captivating light show of chocolate inspired art is projected onto the beautiful old buildings. Chocolate has never looked so beautiful in the dark.
In terms of the actual piece de resistance, where do I even begin?! There are so many chocolate brands, mainly artisanal; some that I have encountered and many that I have not from Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Netherlands, Czech Republic, and even Vietnam and Ecuador. Schell, Weber & Weiss, Kallari, Zotter, Pacari, Marou, Chapon, Chocami, Original Beans and Bean to Ciok, to name a few. Stay tuned for future posts on these discoveries.
I have come to realise that ChocolART is not just a chocolate festival. It’s in fact a showcase and celebration of chocolate-inspired art featuring artisanal handmade chocolates, inventive chocolate dishes, traditional treats and beverages through to creative chocolate artworks and the beautiful cocoa-inspired motifs that are projected in the stunning light show. It changes one’s perception of chocolate from a mere food/ treat to an art form. This, for me, is the key appeal of ChocolART, revealed in the charming backdrop that is Tuebingen.
Does this rate as an ultimate chocolate experience? How can it not, for celebrating chocolate in all its beauty and forms!
