Discover the Sweet Charms of Lausanne: A List of Chocolatiers
Lausanne is a city in Switzerland known for its spectacular views of Lake Geneva, charming architecture, and decadent chocolates. The city is home to some of the best chocolate shops in the world, offering a wide range of high-quality Swiss chocolate treats that will satisfy any sweet tooth.
From traditional chocolate truffles to unique flavor combinations, Lausanne’s chocolate shops have something for everyone. Whether you’re a chocolate connoisseur or just looking to indulge, exploring the chocolate shops in Lausanne is an experience you will want to experience.
Here’s a list of some deliciousness:
- Läderach Chocolate Factory: The Läderach Chocolate Factory is a family-owned business that produces high-quality Swiss chocolate. The factory offers guided tours where visitors can learn about chocolate’s history and how it’s made. Of course, there will also be plenty of opportunities to sample the chocolate!
- Blondel Chocolate: Blondel Chocolate is a luxury chocolate brand producing chocolate in Lausanne since 1850. They offer chocolate tours where visitors can learn about the history of the company and the chocolate-making process. The tour ends with a chocolate tasting.
- Durig Chocolatier: Durig Chocolatier is a boutique chocolate shop that offers chocolate-making workshops and tastings. Visitors can learn how to make their chocolate and try different varieties of chocolate.
- Chocolate tasting at artisanal chocolate shops: Lausanne has many artisanal chocolate shops that offer chocolate tastings. Some of the best include Chocolats Rohr, Chocolaterie Chez Camille Bloch, and Chocolaterie Durig.
- Chocolate train tour: The Chocolate Train is a unique tour that takes visitors from Montreux to the medieval town of Gruyères and the Cailler-Nestlé chocolate factory. The tour includes a scenic train ride, a visit to the cheese-making town of Gruyères, and a tour of the chocolate factory with plenty of chocolate tastings.
- Chocolate festival: If you are in Lausanne in late October or early November, you can attend the Salon du Chocolat. This chocolate festival celebrates the art of chocolate making. The festival includes chocolate tastings, workshops, and demonstrations by master chocolatiers.
Did you know?
Lausanne chocolate is home to the renowned Ecole Chocolat, an international school of chocolate arts that offers professional chocolatier programs and chocolate-making courses.
The school was founded by Pam Williams, a famous chocolate expert, and author, and her husband, Michael, in 2003. The Ecole Chocolat has trained thousands of students worldwide, including chocolatiers, pastry chefs, and entrepreneurs, and has helped establish Lausanne as a hub for chocolate education and innovation.
Swiss chocolatiers, go through a combination of formal training and hands-on experience in chocolate-making.
Here are some of the steps:
- Formal Training: Many chocolatiers complete a formal training program in chocolate making. Switzerland has several renowned chocolate schools, such as Ecole Chocolat, Barry Callebaut Chocolate Academy, etc. These programs typically cover chocolate-making basics, including tempering, molding, enrobing, and flavoring. The courses are taught by experienced chocolatiers and may last from several days to several months.
- Apprenticeship: After completing formal training, many chocolatiers choose to gain hands-on experience through an apprenticeship with an established chocolatier. During this time, they learn advanced chocolate-making techniques, including truffles, pralines, and other confections.
- Specialty Certification: Some chocolatiers specialize in a particular area of chocolate making, such as bean-to-bar or artisanal chocolate. They may obtain certification in that area, such as the International Chocolate Awards or the Academy of Chocolate.
- Business and Marketing Skills: Along with technical skills, a chocolatier needs to have business acumen and marketing skills to succeed in the industry. They need to understand the market demand, cost of production, sales, and distribution channels to launch their chocolate brand or set up a chocolate business.
Becoming legit Swiss chocolatiers requires a combination of technical skills, creativity, business acumen, and a passion for chocolate making.
A little history:
Chocolate in Lausanne can be traced back to the 17th century when the first chocolate factories were established in Switzerland. However, in the 19th century, Lausanne became a chocolate production and innovation hub.
In 1826, chocolatier Francois-Louis Cailler opened the first Swiss chocolate factory in Vevey, near Lausanne. This was followed by other famous Swiss chocolate companies, such as Lindt, Toblerone, and Nestle, also established in the region.
Swiss chocolate is made by carefully roasting and grinding cocoa beans, combining them with sugar, milk, and other ingredients to create a smooth, creamy texture and delicious taste. Chocolatiers then add in liquor–conched, stirred, followed by heating the mixture to create a smooth, velvety texture.
Next, the chocolate is tempered, then put in molds to create chocolates. The result is rich, decadent chocolate with a smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture that is enjoyed by chocolate lovers all over the world.
Over the years, Lausanne has become synonymous with high-quality Swiss chocolate, and the city has played a vital role in developing the chocolate industry in Switzerland.
Lausanne is currently home to many artisanal chocolate makers and chocolatiers who continue to push the boundaries of chocolate-making with innovative techniques and unique flavor combinations. The city’s reputation for excellence in chocolate production continue to attract chocolate lovers worldwide to Lausanne’s famous chocolate shops and factories.