ZURICH - In Your Pocket

54 SHOPPING
Swiss chocolate
Swiss chocolate is of world renown - and yes, you should
take advantage of being here and try some of these sweet
sins. But have you ever wondered why it is the Swiss who
make such delicious chocolate?
Cocoa, the main ingredient of chocolate comes from South
America and was brought to Europe in the early 16th century. But
it wasn’t until the end of the 18th century that Swiss craftsmen
started to process cocoa and to establish small businesses
producing chocolate. In the 19th century some of today’s best
known Swiss chocolate producers (like Suchard, Sprüngli, Lindt,
Callier and Tobler) were established. But it took two leaps of
technology in the 1870s for Swiss chocolate to become a real
success. First Daniel Peter invented milk chocolate. Condensed
milk was the key to success. Then, in 1879, Rodolphe Lindt
invented the mysterious conche. This scraper-mixer makes
solid chocolate smooth and creamy rather than hard and gritty,
as it had been until then. The Lindt conche was a milestone
and has been copied ever since.
In the following decades, the Swiss became very keen on
this creamy chocolate and soon also started exporting
their produce. Today around 175,000 tons of chocolate are
produced in Switzerland per year. And yes, the Swiss are the
world’s greatest chocolate eaters: statistically the Swiss
eat around 12 kilograms a year each. As a comparison a
US-American consumes 5.4kg a year.
In Zurich, the most famous chocolate producer and confectioner
is probably Sprüngli, the original shop with café situated on
Paradeplatz (Bahnhofstrasse 21, see p. 33). Another well-known
Zurich chocolate maker is Lindt & Sprüngli. They were originally
connected to Sprüngli, but split the business at the end of the
19th century. Its factory is just outside Zurich and you can buy
Lindt chocolate in literally every grocery store.
Here are a few suggestions besides Sprüngli on where to
find chocolate paradise in Zurich:
Confiserie Läderach
Honold La Confiserie E-3, Rennweg 53, 8Rennweg,
tel. +41 44 211 52 58, www.honold.ch. Since 1905
Honold Confiserie has been producing chocolate, cakes and
pastries just next to Bahnhofstrasse. Their chocolate cake
and the birchermüesli (oat flakes with fruits and yoghurt)
are also well-known. The shop is also a coffee bar with a
balcony on the first floor, so you can enjoy Honold’s sweets
while watching busy shopping on Rennweg. QOpen 07:30
- 18:30, Sat 07:30 - 17:00. Closed Sun.
Läderach Chocolatier Suisse (at Merkur
Chocolaterie) E-2, Bahnhofstrasse 106,
8Bahnhofstrasse/HB, tel. +41 44 211 53 72,
www.laederach.ch. The traditional Swiss chocolatier
Läderach sells freshly produced chocolate, filled chocolates
and pralines. You even get an insight into the craft of
confectionery here, as some of the chocolate is actually
produced on site - creating irresistible aromas! There are
30 different kinds on display, in slabs which are broken into
pieces and sold by weight. Chocolates are on offer by piece.
In addition to the Läderach chocolate you can also get all the
Swiss chocolate brands from Lindt to Toblerone. QOpen
09:00 - 20:00, Sat 09:00 - 18:00. Closed Sun.
Teuscher Confiserie E-3, Bahnhofstrasse 46,
8Rennweg, tel. +41 44 211 13 90, www.teuscher.com.
More than a hundred different flavours of Swiss chocolate,
marzipan, biscuits and the famous champagne truffles
made according to Adolf Teuscher’s traditional recipe. Q
Open 09:00 - 19:00, Thu & Fri 09:00 - 20:00, Sat 09:00 -
18:00, Sun 13:00 - 16:00.
Truffe E-4, Schlüsselgasse 12, 8Paradeplatz, tel. +41
43 539 18 85, www.truffe-zurich.ch. In the middle of the
old town, but a little hidden in a side alley, this chocolate
shop is dedicated to small Swiss and yes, Italian chocolate
confectioneries. Some are quite traditional, some come
with rather unusual flavours. You can usually try some of
these sweet sins before you buy. Q Open 11:00 - 18:30,
Sat 11:00 - 17:00, closed Sun & Mon.
Vollenweider Chocolatier Confiseur G-5,
Theaterstrasse 1, 8Opernhaus, tel. +41 43 288
04 04, www.vollenweiderchocolatier.ch. This
confectioner’s home town is Winterthur, but his first Zurich
shop is an enrichment for the lovers of sweets in town.
Macaroons, truffes, small chocolate candies - they have it
all. And much more. Q Open 08:00 - 19:00, Sat 08:00 -
17:00. Sun closed.
at Läderach Chocolaterie, Bahnhofstrasse 106, Zurich
and at Chocolaterie ShopVille RailCity Zurich; Shopping Center Glatt, Wallisellen
Finest Swiss
chocolate
at its best
Zurich In Your Pocket zurich.inyourpocket.com
Schweizer Heimatwerk E-3, Uraniastrasse 1,
8Rudolf-Brun-Brücke, tel. +41 44 222 19 55,
www.heimatwerk.ch. Swiss handcrafted souvenirs of high
quality: fashion accessories, toys, bells, books and fondue
sets all with a Swiss twist to the design. QOpen 09:00 -
20:00, Sat 09:00 - 18:00. Closed Sun.
Teddy’s Souvenir-Shop F-4, Limmatquai
34, 8 Helmhaus, tel. +41 44 261 22 89,
www.teddyssouvenirshop.ch. Clocks, cowbells, hats,
music boxes, pets and textiles: it’s all waiting for you at
Teddy’s souvenir shop close to Grossmünster - open even
on Sundays. QOpen 08:30 - 20:00, Sat 08:30 - 16:00,
Sun 11:00 - 17:00.
Swiss design
Mammut E-2, Löwenstrasse 60, 8Hauptbahnhof, tel.
+41 43 233 00 66, www.mammut.ch. The Swiss producer
of trekking and mountaineering equipment Mammut has
a huge flagship store in Zurich. On several stories you can
browse through shoes, backpacks, sleeping bags, climbing
gear and fashionable clothing for outdoors sports and outdoor
use in general. QOpen 09:30 - 19:00, Mon 12:00 - 19:00,
Thu 09:30 - 20:00, Sat 09:00 - 17:00.
Paradis des Innocents E-3, Oetenbachgasse
7, 8 Rennweg, tel. +41 44 262 20 50,
www.paradisdesinnocents.ch. The three Swiss
designers Stefania Samadelli, Simone Klemm and Ursula
Schwaller present their latest collections in their little
paradise: elegant fashion for women, be it for leisure or
business. Q Open 10:00 - 18:30, Sat 10:00 - 17:00,
closed Sun & Mon.
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SHOPPING
Oh, sausages! Yes, and of the best at Pretôt Delikatessen.
PD
Swiss food
Pretôt Delikatessen E-3, Kuttelgasse 3, 8Rennweg,
tel. +41 44 221 05 33, www.lafinebouche.ch. It‘s all
about sausages here: smoked, dried, for boiling - coming
from all the different corners of Switzerland, straight to the
heart of Zurich. QOpen 09:00 - 18:30, Mon 10:00 - 18:30.
Closed Sun.
Tritt-Käse L-6, Limmatstrasse 231 (Im Viadukt),
8Dammweg, tel. +41 43 366 87 88, www.tritt.ch.
Dozens of different cheeses from all corners of Switzerland.
Don’t be shy, ask for a taster! The sales staff is usually happy
to cut some for you or to recommend their favourites. Q Open
10:00 - 20:00, Fri & Sat 08:00 - 20:00, Sun closed.
PURE STYLE
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destination for watches and
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www.christ-swiss.ch
October - November 2012
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