TRAVELLIVE 2-2016

We continued our journey
to Teuscher Chocolates, a
chocolatier which boasts an array
of premium Swiss chocolate.
Here, with a champagne
chocolate truffle you can savor
the creamy filling swirling
about in your mouth. Teuscher
chocolate originated in a small
alpine town in Switzerland. Mr.
Doft Teuscher, the founder,
has traveled everywhere to
find the highest quality cocoa,
marzipan, fruits, nuts, and other
ingredients used in chocolate
confectionery. After years of
experimentation, he has skillfully
blended the ingredients to make
the famous chocolates that we
eat today.
Opposite to the Teuscher
Chocolatier is Sweet Cupcakes,
a favored destination for locals.
This brand also features 6
outlets around the Beantown
area. Don’t forget to taste the
most special dish here - toasted
chocolate. Next, Patisserie
Newbury is a famous shop
selling their renowned double
chocolate cookie which is made
from ingredients from Valrhona,
France. This unsweetened
chocolate is considered one of the
most luxurious dishes in France.
Valrhona is also the name of the
first chocolate manufacturer to
create premium wine-flavored
chocolate. Valrhona has satisfied
countless connoisseurs since
it was founded in 1922 with
its products made with cocoa
beans harvested from the leading
plantations of South America, the
Caribbean and Pacific regions.
Patisserie Newbury’s cookie is
the harmonious blend of rich
nutritional Valrhona chocolate
and the slight, bittersweet cocoa
hidden within the chocolate
chips, mesmerizing diners.
The last point of our tour was
Sugar Heaven, a classically
decorated gift shop modestly
located within a radiant
shopping center. Its däcor and
arrangement make you feel like
you are lost in a wonderland of
sweets. Be sure that you aren’t
full before tasting one of the
salted caramel or chocolate
covered pretzels. Visit Beacon
Hill Chocolate Shop and take
some photos with the unique
warning boards such as the one
saying: “When a tornado comes,
make sure you have batteries,
water and rain footwear,
especially never forget the most
crucial one: chocolate!”
ReMAIN sWeeTNess
I could immerse myself in the
sweet world of chocolate as if
the 3-hour tour lasted 3 days.
The thousands of chocolate
types I tasted, together with the
ice-cream and cakes, have their
own power to entice me and
other visitors. No one intends
to buy anything during the tour
as you are invited to try them
for free. However, right after
getting back to the hotel when
chocolate and wine starts taking
effect, you will want to go back
to the shops immediately to buy
some more.
FuRTHER INFORMATION:
TOuR
ü If you are interested in this
kind of tour, you can visit www.
bostonchocolatetours.com and
choose a suitable tour based on the
hotel you plan to stay at. Prices start
at USD50. You can find tours with
50% off at www.groupon.com or
www.expedia.com.
NOTE
ü You should come to the starting
point 15 minutes early so that you
can meet your tour guide. During
the tour, stay on track lest you get
lost as there are many groups of
tourists visiting shops at the same
time. Bring walking shoes with you.
BuFFET
ü Enjoy a chocolate buffet with
hundreds of chocolate candies at
The Langham Hotels & Resorts at
250 Franklin Street. Book in advance
according to the timeframe: 11am,
11:30am, 1:00pm and 1:30pm
on Saturday. Price: USD42/adult,
USD32/ children from 5-12 years
old, free for children under 5.
Chocolate is a great way to
explore Boston using your eyes
and your stomach. This way
keeps you connected to the city
you are visiting and helps you
understand more about the way
the local shops and businesses
interact with their customers. I
love meeting the shop owners
and listening to their “secrets”
for making their shops unique
with unparalleled products.
On Valentine’s Day, I know
that if you want to impress your
lover who has a passion for
chocolate, you should consider
taking a trip to TCHO (at Pier
17) in San Francisco, Mast
Brothers Chocolate in Brooklyn
(New York), Ethel M Chocolates
in Las Vegas (Nevada) or Lake
Champlain Chocolates in
Burlington (Vermont). But for
me, I just want to lazily enjoy
chocolate!
TRAVELLIVE 113