Barcelona: a must for chocolate travel to Spain
Barcelona is an important stop on any chocolate lover’s quest to Spain. I particularly enjoyed meeting Enric Rovira–an incredible chocolate maker who is profiled in detail in my book, Chocolatour: A Quest for the World’s Best Chocolate (volume 1.) Rovira makes truly excellent concept chocolate to challenge your mind and your senses. His shop is a must for anyone in search of excellent chocolate in Barcelona.
Enric Rovira is one of the most creative chocolatiers I have ever met. His work can best be described in two words: ethereal and concept chocolate. Do check him out if you visit Barcelona and you will find something completely different and something intriguing, but all delicious!
chocolate in Barcelona
Barcelona is also home to an amazing chocolate museum you will find to excite your senses. The Museu de la Xocolata is a must for your chocolate travel to Spain. You will learn about the history of chocolate, see an extensive assortment of equipment used for chocolate making, and be enticed and entertained by a broad assortment of chocolate creations. And yes … you can taste, buy, and even learn how to make chocolate on site.
You can taste, buy, and create chocolate at the Chocolate Museum
Spain plays a very important role in the history of chocolate
I’ve been to several chocolate museums around the world. Each has its own personality, just as every culture–and its chocolate–has its own unique personality. What’s special about Barcelona’s Chocolate Museum is that it showcases life-like, and in some cases, life-sized chocolate creations that really show you how chocolate masters are using our favourite confection to entertain, inspire, and entice us with chocolate-based art. Here’s a look at some of the examples you will see!
chocolate gaucho and bull
global pop culture in chocolate
We didn’t have time to take a class at the museum (they hold chocolate making classes, and also special chocolate tasting and celebratory functions here.) But if you plan your visit ahead, you can do just that. Spend some time perusing their website to learn more.
Indeed, Barcelona is a city that will satisfy every one of your senses. I learned that one of my favourite celebratory libations, Freixenet, is made in the Catalan region of Peneds, just south of Barcelona! What goes better with decadent dark chocolate truffles than a glass (or two!) of dry sparkling wine? And Freixenet is the world’s number one sparkling wine! Learn how to pronounce Freixenet here.
Enjoy all of the indulgences of Barcelona–especially the pleasures of its chocolate–and be sure to visit this blog again when we’ll continue our chocolate travels with a visit to Torino, Italy.
My wife and I are excited for the vacation we’ve booked in Europe to Spain and definitely we will go to the Canary. Tenerife is one of our eyeing place for our 1st stop 🙂 I wanted to know if you have experience traveling to this wonderful Island. Is there anything you can recommend aside from your past travel in in Spain?
Hi Daniele. I have not been to the Canary Islands or Tenerife. but I would certainly like to go! I’ve enjoyed visits to Madrid, Barcelona, El Ciebo, Bilbao and truly love Spain. Thx for stopping by. 🙂
Great article, Doreen! I can’ t believe I have never been to the Museu de la Xocolata! (It’s now on my list!). There is also a chocolate shop you should visit next time you travel to Barcelona: Tienda Oriol Balaguer. He is one of Spain’s top pastry chefs and chocolatiers and he worked with El Bulli chef Ferran Adriá 🙂
Hi Marta: I do mention Oriol in my book. Didn’t have the opportunity to meet him, but hopefully, next time I am in Spain, as he also has a shop in Madrid. I adore Spanish artisanal chocolate as it is so pure and intense.
Great to see the huge variety of chocolates in your blog. And I agree, when it comes to the fascination of chocolates. I think Barcelona is the only place that I have known who created a life – sized chocolate figure.
-Melissa Davis
Hi Melissa and thank you for visiting our chocolate travel blog.
Actually, you will find there to be many chocolate sculptures these days of various sizes. The Salon du Chocolat international chocolate shows that are held around the world have chocolate fashion shows, chocolate sculptures of various sizes and shapes and all kind of chocolate surprises!
Thanks, Suzanne. It’s fun sharing it with you all, and is a prelude to what you find in the pages of Chocolatour. I’m so excited about the book. The proposal is blossoming and truly coming into its own. There is much to be said for the virtues of patience and persistence.
Happy Holidays!
Are you kidding? I had no idea they had chocolate museums. That is so cool! The photos are amazing. I’m enjoying tagging along on your trip. Look forward to your continued postings.
Hi Kathe: Yes, you’re right. The Chocolate Museum in Barcelona was larger and more sophisticated than the one in Brussels, which focused more on the history of the cocoa bean and the simplicity of its pleasures. So much chocolate indeed! May the journey never end.
For anyone wanting to learn more about the Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate in Brussels, check out last year’s post on my sister blog at: http://doreenisthewizardofwords.blogspot.com/2009/11/brilliance-of-brussels.html.
Looks like a really interesting place to visit, Doreen. A different level of sophistication than the chocolate museum in Brussels, I think, though that had its own charms too.
So many places to see, so much chocolate to taste, so little time!
Wow, Jean! Thanks for introducing me to Patrick Roger. Amazing! We saw an incredible display of chocolate clothing and other chocolate art in Paris at the Salon du Chocolat last year. His stuff must have been part of it but I hadn’t realized it. It’s just amazing what they are now doing with chocolate! Take a look at my blog post from last year on Salon du Chocolat if you’re interested. It’s on my sister blog at this link: http://doreenisthewizardofwords.blogspot.com/2009/11/salon-du-chocolate.html.
You will find many posts about last year’s chocolate quest on the Blogger blog. I hope to eventually migrate them all to this WordPress site, but haven’t done so yet. Check it out, and subscribe/comment there as well if you like. Welcome aboard!
Hi Doreen! How amazing to be able to travel and see a chocolate museum! You must have been in chocolate heaven. There are so many cool things that artists can do with chocolate and it always amazes me. I wonder how they can do those works of art without wanting to eat their creations 😉 This latest creation is just amazing ‘Chocolate Christmas Tree’ http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2010/November/Giant-Chocolate-Christmas-Tree-Made-in-France/ and I’d love to go see that! Have a chocolate filled day!
Thanks, Christine. Here’s the link to a U-Tube video on the Jeju Chocolate Factory & Museum. Looks like it’s well worth a visit!
And as you say in your comment on another Barcelona post, Spain is definitely worth a visit on your next trip to Europe!
Hi Doreen:
It was great to read about this chocolate museum. I love the chocolate sculptures. We visited one on Jeju Island, S. Korea. It’s an award winner, and like you say, has its own personality and culture. I’d be happy to share my notes and photos.
Thanks, Irene! I’m always interesting in speaking to chocolate lovers! Talk to you on Friday.
Hi Doreen,
I have another friend who is especially into chocolate and taught chocolate making before retiring. Let me know on Friday if you would like to hear more about her or possibly get in touch with her.