A Well Kept Man

For those that are not fortunate enough to make it over here for the chocolate factory tour in Broc, please allow me to express my empathy to you and your family. It's not that you are missing the greatest tour on Earth (to be honest, the tour itself is somewhat lacking), but what you are missing is the free samples and opportunity to purchase untold measures of pure chocolate perfection at rock bottom prices!

Don't believe me? Fine, don't (but don't expect any gifts for the holidays...your stocking will instead be stuffed with Swiss cheeses that have been left out in the sun too long...)

Anyway, as the internet has yet to perfect Smell-O-Vision, I will have to rely on photographic means to lure you to come visit. As the contents of the tasting room are ever changing, please keep in mind that the photographs represented on this site may not be indicative of the actual chocolate displayed during your visit.

The tour winds through the dark hallways of the Cailler factory, showing you pictures of a bunch of bearded guys who discovered how to make a better chocolate bar, as well as old posters, tin/aluminum/steel castings of various shapes and sizes, and old equipment previously used for creating the chocolate delicacies. In addition, there is a large room filled with bags of the various raw ingredients used in making chocolate with a docent to explain the origin and methods for utilizing all of the ingredients (Have you ever wanted to try a raw cocoa bean? Well this is your chance.) The last few rooms on the tour wind through a video room showing various parts of the factory in action as visitors are no longer allowed in the factory due to hygienic reasons (or possibly one too many kids put their grubby little fingers in the giant vats of molten chocolate and ruined it for the rest of us), as well as a smelling room where you can stick your nose up to an aluminum pipe which then shoots warm air carrying the scents of milk chocolate, white chocolate, dark chocolate, and chocolate with hazelnuts (separate tubes of course). Very sanitary!

The apex of the tour (not sure if this is the best word, maybe pinnacle would be better) is the tasting room where you are able to sample all of the available concoctions of chocolate. I encourage you to plan ahead if you come for a visit by either having a bottle of water handy, and/or taking your insulin as not to cause a scene. I've been three times so far, and thrice I've received a tummy ache (you would think I would have learned after the first time). Alli is much more judicious in her selections (meaning she doesn't throw caution to the wind and stuffs as much chocolate in her face as possible...maybe I should follow her lead next time) which has resulted in a much more pleasurable experience for her.

Once you've had all you can eat, you head out to the shop where you can buy as much as you want. Occasionally they have special items for sale, and they always have a special deal (like buy four bars, get one free, or 20% off on a specific box or something) so it's always worth a visit. The area around the factory is quite scenic as well and offers and opportunity to go climb on a castle, or feast upon a picnic lunch near a panoramic lake. They also take major credit cards, as well as Euros and Swiss Francs (unfortunately I don't receive a commission on what you buy, although I should)...