Two Chocolate Museums In Europe And A Chocolate Truffle Recipe

Since we’re still in the Valentine’s Day mood, today we decided to talk about a special ingredient that would fit perfectly in any love story: chocolate – they say it has aphrodisiac properties and makes the perfect end to a romantic dinner.
Regardless of the types it comes in (dark, milk, white, etc.), the percentage of cocoa and sugar in its composition or the flavor, the chocolate is a delicious dessert that you can enjoy anywhere in the world. Plus, a chocolate gift box is suitable in almost any occasion: birthdays, anniversaries and special events.

History Of Chocolate

The history of chocolate is related to that of the cocoa tree and starts approximately 3,000 years ago in South America, where the Aztecs made chocolate beverages. Cocoa was brought to Europe in the 16th century and the chocolate drink recipe has been improved by adding sugar, milk and various flavors. Solid chocolate was processed for the first time in 1847 in England.
Today, chocolate can be found in various forms (tablets, truffles, pralines, toppings, etc.) and is consumed for both its great taste and energizing effect.

Museums Of Chocolate In Europe

There are countries with rich experience and tradition in the preparation of chocolate, where you can find museums dedicated to this popular delicacy as well as chocolate products exhibitions.

One of the most famous museums of chocolate in Europe is Schokoladenmuseum in Kohln, Germany. The museum was opened in 1993 and is the perfect place where one can find information about the discovery and cultivation of different species of cocoa trees, preparation methods and chocolate tasting techniques.
A miniature tropical jungle is reproduced within the museum including cocoa trees and other tropical plants and fish. Visitors can watch the chocolate preparation process and, of course, can taste the delicious dessert directly from a chocolate fountain.

Another interesting place is the Musée du Chocolat, located in Strasbourg, France. Tickets are available for 8 euros (for adults) and 6 euros (for children between 5 and 15 years). Visitors have the opportunity to taste several recipes of chocolate and other delicious desserts such as chocolat frappé, bière au chocolat or fondue au chocolat.

Bittersweet Chocolate Truffle Recipe

If this article opened your appetite for chocolate, stick around for another couple of minutes and write down this bittersweet chocolate truffle recipe – I assure you: the taste of your own homemade chocolate dessert will be worth the effort.
For this recipe you will need the following ingredients: 250 g dark chocolate (70% cocoa), 160 ml cream, 80 g cocoa, 35 g butter, 2 tablespoons water 2 tablespoons sugar (you can change the amount of sugar as you prefer ). You will use a bain-marie to prepare the mixture. Place 2 tablespoons of water in the smaller container of the bain-marie and let it heat. Add the chocolate tablets and stir until they melt, then add cream, butter and sugar. You can also add other flavors to this recipe: rum, vanilla or orange zest. Let the mixture cool and refrigerate for a few hours (you can leave it in the refrigerator overnight). The next day, the composition will become solid: to get the truffle shape, use a spoon to cut this mixture into small balls of chocolate. The truffles can be covered with cocoa or a mix of chopped nuts and peanuts.

Bon appetit, whether you are on a skiing holiday and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate or have taken a break between two rounds of shopping and want to get your energy boost with a chocolate bar with peanuts.