BRUGES CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL

A City, immersed in chocolate.

Chocolate… a long history
Cocoa has appealed to the imagination for more than 2,500 years already. The Mayas and later the Aztecs used to make a nectar from cocoa beans which they spiced with peppers. During their conquests in Latin America the Spanish conquistadors came up with the idea to add cane sugar to this drink which made the Aztec ‘tchocolatl’ more palatable for the Europeans. Most Belgian historic chocolate brands only date back as far as the late 19th century. However, since that time it's impossible to imagine the world without Belgian chocolate. Belgian chocolate, renowned for its authenticity and high quality, has grown into a national symbol. Far beyond the national boundaries chocolate lovers appreciate this high quality product…

Choco-Laté, The Bruges Chocolate Festival, will take place from 6th April until 10th April 2007, in the historic city centre of Bruges. The Oud Sint-Jan site will be the beating heart of the festival where visitors will undergo the ultimate chocolate experience. Chocolate lovers will find a treasure trove of information, but above all will be pampered, surprised and seduced. Themes range from pleasure and creativity, to passion and gourmet tasting, health and wellness.

Taste & Enjoy
Choco-Laté will be the festival of sweet sins… The taste sensations that chocolate makers offer at dozens of stands seduce the public and submerge them in an atmosphere of indulgence and pure enjoyment.

Fascinate & discover - Imagination & choco-arte
During live demonstrations top chefs, bakers and chocolate makers let visitors discover chocolate creations and recipes that they can try out themselves. Attention will be paid to the wide variety of ’creative applications’ with chocolate. Sculptors, painters, and body painters will create works of art using chocolate.

Beauty inside and out
Chocolate is used increasingly in beauty products and for a healthy lifestyle. Chocolate massages, chocolate packs or cocoa therapies are just a few of the treatments that could be presented to the public. Chocolate's role in a healthy and balanced diet is also given an important place at the fair.

Fair chocolate
Consumers are finding it increasingly important to know what route an end product exactly follows. Chocolate is no different. They want to know whether the cocoa beans were processed under fair social and ecological conditions. Choco-Laté is not only about enjoyment and indulgence but also about fair trade.

The perfect match
Chocolate with a nice glass of wine, a big chocolate fondue with fruit. Choco-Laté shows you how chocolate can be deliciously combined with other delicacies.

Choco-Laté junior
All the while children can have creative chocolate fun in a special children’s' corner where they can paint, decorate cakes,...

Chocolate Walk
A special chocolate festival route has been mapped out that takes visitors along the chocolate hotspots of historic Bruges. One of the stops of the Chocolate route is Choco-Story, the chocolate museum established in Huis de Croon. Choco-Story offers an illustrated overview of the process from cocoa bean to chocolate, the history of chocolate and much more. The next stop is the Saaihalle, where visitors can go to a temporary exhibition and learn about the cocoa drink as made by the Mayas and Aztecs thousands of years ago. Visitors are transported through the history of the chocolate drink and can even taste the original, red, peppered drink. A couple of traditional chocolate makers in the heart of Bruges will, exceptionally, open the doors of their ateliers to the public.

Tickets and information:

Don't miss out on this event!

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