chocolate factory to visit near me

• Chocolate Candy
• American Desserts

Chocolate and Candy Factory Tours in the U.S.

If You're Lucky, Try Some Treats Fresh off the Line

Maskot / Getty Images

Jelly Belly

Theo chocolate.

• Boehm's Candies

Hammond’s Candy Company

Sweet’s candy company, cerreta candy company, the candy factory, rebecca ruth chocolates, anthony-thomas chocolates, sanders and morley candy makers, webb’s candy shop.

If you have ever watched "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory," you have probably dreamed of setting foot inside a candy factory one day. Well, there are many working candy factories today in the U.S. that offer free or low-cost tours. They might not include Willy Wonka’s chocolate rivers or edible vegetation, but these factory tours can be a lot of fun.

Candy factory tours offer an exciting look at how beloved sweets are made behind the scenes, and in addition to seeing the assembly methods, visitors often learn about candy making and the history of the specific candy and candy company.

Touring a candy factory can be a great family activity since it appeals to all ages and is affordable—almost all of the tours listed below are free. (If you are a large group, it is always a good idea to call ahead to schedule a tour that can accommodate you). Best of all, candy tours often end with free samples of the merchandise, fresh off the assembly line.

Note that most of these candy factories use nuts in the process, so a tour would require special precautions for anyone with a nut allergy. Browse this listing of candy factory tours, see if there is one near you, and enjoy.

The main  Jelly Belly factory is located (appropriately enough) at One Jelly Belly Lane in Fairfield, California. The company was founded by Gustav Goelitz in 1869. As you may have guessed, jelly beans , in more than 50 flavors (including pomegranate and chili-mango) rank as its primary product. The self-guided tour is free, and it takes about 45 minutes to cover the quarter-mile area that includes interactive exhibits, films depicting the intricacies of candy making, and examples of Jelly Belly art. You can skip the line with a personal guided tour for one to six people included for a single fee, but you must make a reservation.

In Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, you can visit the Jelly Belly warehouse and distribution center. Learn how these jelly beans are made on a free, 30-minute train ride through the facility complete with whimsical decorations and jelly bean characters fun for children and all kids at heart.

Theo Chocolate is considered one of the first organic, fair-trade certified chocolate makers in North America. Around since 2006, the factory is located in a former brewery building and trolley car depot in the Fremont neighborhood of North Seattle, Washington. About 60,000 visitors tour the factory per year. Tours have an admission fee except for free tours on Fremont Third Thursday. The guided tour is about one hour long, includes chocolate samples, but children under age 5 are not permitted on the tour. For those under age 5, a weekly children's storytime tour is offered. You can also book a private tour for groups of up to 24 people, which can include young children and babies.

Boehm's Candies

Boehm's Candies has been around since 1942 when Austrian Olympian runner Julius Boehms opened his first candy shop in the Ravenna area of Seattle, Washington. He later designed, built, and relocated his shop to an authentic Swiss-style Alpine chalet in the Issaquah foothills, which reminded him of home. Tours of the Issaquah production facility and shop are available during the summer months only for a small fee per person (under age 1, free). On a 40-minute tour, you can see how their famous truffles , caramels, and nut candies are made. Outside of the summer months, if you have a group of 10 or more, you can inquire about scheduling a tour.

Carl T. Hammond, Sr., founded Hammond's Candy Company in Denver, Colorado, in 1920. You can visit the factory and watch as treats like lollipops, candy canes, and other popular Hammond's treats are pulled, twisted, shaped, and packaged by hand. The 30-minute tour is free. No reservations are required, but you can call ahead. The tour is offered every 30 minutes on the hour and on the half. Children are welcome. Wheelchairs and strollers can access the facility.

The Sweet Candy Company first opened its doors in 1892 in Portland, Oregon. In the 1900s, the company moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where it has been ever since. Sweet Candy Company remains family-owned and operated by the third, fourth, and fifth generations of the family. Their specialty is taffy , gummies, chocolate sticks, and the company produces 250 other candies. The tour is free, by appointment only, Monday through Friday. The guided tour includes fresh factory samples and educational and interactive stations.

The Cerreta Candy Company is a family-owned business founded in 1968 by Jim Cerreta, Sr., in Glendale, Arizona. He had learned the art of candy production in his father-in-law’s factory in Canton, Ohio. He then passed the skill on to his children and grandchildren. Four generations later, the business is going strong. Their signature candy is French mint chocolates followed closely by chocolate caramels and creams. The free, 30-minute guided tour is offered Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. and at 1 p.m. A VIP tour package is available for a small fee.

Visit The Candy Factory in Columbia, Missouri, and observe some of the traditional candy-making processes in use since they opened their doors in 1974. The Candy Factory creates chocolate assortments of truffles and, for free, you can take a sneak peek at the process through their viewing room.

When you think Kentucky, there are likely two things that come to mind: the Kentucky Derby and bourbon whiskey. It stands without question that Rebecca Ruth Chocolates in Frankfort, Kentucky, has tipped a nod to both in its lines of chocolate samplers and liquor-filled chocolates. From its famous bourbon balls to its Triple Crown Assortment, the selections are something you can only find in Kentucky. A 20-minute tour is available for a small fee. Children under 5 are free.

Walk the glass-enclosed, suspended "catwalk" and observe nine assembly lines producing 30,000 pounds of chocolates at the Anthony-Thomas factory in Columbus, Ohio. A tour guide explains each process step-by-step from the kitchens to the final packaging on a one-hour tour. View huge copper kettles where the gooey centers of some of the candies are created and take a look at the network of silver-wrapped pipes that carry liquid chocolate throughout the factory. The tour is available for a very small fee and is free for children under age 3. The admission fee can be applied to a candy purchase. No reservations are required.

Since 1875, Sanders fine chocolates have been woven into the fabric of Michigan culture. With chains throughout the Great Lakes region, it was the regional chocolate. With its own rich history since 1919, Morley Candy Makers bought Sanders in 2002. The Sanders and Morely Candy Makers chocolate factory tour in Clinton Township, Michigan, is great for all ages and it is free. Guided tours are available by appointment only. But you can stop by any day for a free self-guided kitchen tour.

Somebody at the helm was paying attention to marketing when developing the product lines at Webb's Candy in Davenport, Florida—each product is unique. From goat's milk fudge bars to citrus jelly candies made with real citrus juices, Webb's is the real deal. To learn more about them, take a free, self-guided tour

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Here’s your golden ticket to American chocolate & candy factory tours! O.K. it’s not an actual golden ticket but you don’t need one with these candy makers and chocolatiers inviting you, your family, your classroom, or your group to see how they make all the treats and goodies your sweet tooth craves.

Candy & Chocolate Factory Tours in the USA

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Visit a USA Candy or Chocolate Factory

Arizona candy factory & chocolatier tours.

Cerreta | Glendale, AZ

Tours of Cerreta’s chocolate factory are available Monday through Friday. They offer fun tour activity upgrades too. Kids can pull taffy, make their own chocolate pizza or chocolate bar, and many other options.

California Candy Factory & Chocolatier Tours

Jelly Belly | Fairfield, CA

Walk above the factory at your own pace in Jelly Belly’s self-guided tour. Participate in interactive exhibits and games along the tour lane, shop at the Jelly Belly store, and dine at the Jelly Belly cafe.

Visit the Official Jelly Belly Amazon Store

#Jelly Belly

Colorado Candy Factory & Chocolatier Tours

Hammond’s Candies | Denver, CO

Bring your curiosity and a sweet tooth to see where lollipops, candy canes, and other Hammond’s treats are made on the complimentary Hammond’s candy factory tour. See your favorite treats pulled, twisted, shaped, and packaged by hand as they’ve been since 1920.

Visit the Official Hammond’s Candies Amazon Store

#Hammond’s Candies

The Taffy Shop | Estes Park, CO

Watch the K Kiss machine in action and get a fresh piece of taffy straight from the sorting bin when you visit The Taffy Shop in downtown Estes Park.

Visit the Official Taffy Shop Amazon Store

#The Taffy Shop

Connecticut Candy Factory & Chocolatier Tours

Fascia’s Chocolates | Waterbury, CT

Check the event calendar to enjoy a chocolate experience where adults and children alike can make a candy bar, or choose a Chocolate Decadence Tour by train where chocolates will be paired with spirits from regional distilleries, breweries, wineries, and vineyards.

#Fascia’s Chocolates

PEZ | Orange, CT

Experience PEZ in person in a self-guided visit to the more than 4,000 square feet visitor center dedicated to all things PEZ. The visitor’s center includes memorabilia, PEZ history, and even a PEZ motorcycle built by Orange County Choppers.

Shop PEZ on Amazon

Florida Candy Factory & Chocolatier Tours

Davidson of Dundee | Dundee, FL

The Davidson family personally invites you to visit the original factory and retail store located in Dundee, Florida where you can see how the candies, chocolates, marmalades, and jellies are made by hand, one batch at a time. 

#Davidson of Dundee

Whetstone Chocolates | St. Augustine, FL

Learn the history of Whetstone Chocolates and taste freshly made chocolates and confections while you walk through the factory in St. Augustine’s original chocolate factory tour.

#Whetstone Chocolates

Hawaii Candy Factory & Chocolatier Tours

Original Hawaiian Chocolate | Kailua Kona, HI

Original Hawaiian Chocolate offers guided plantation tours of the working plantain. Reservations are required. Take a scenic walking tour of the cacao orchard and sample delicious milk, and rare criollo chocolates. The tour is full of information about every step in the chocolate-making process from growing the trees to molding each handmade, delicious bar.

#Original Hawaiian Chocolate

Illinois Candy Factory & Choclatier Tours

Long Grove Confectionery Co. | Buffalo Grove, IL

See the famous chocolate factory tour that’s great for all ages. Smell the buttery chocolate and taste the rich caramel as you view the production and enjoy a chocolate treat.

#Long Grove Confectionary Co.

Indiana Candy Factory & Chocolatier Tours

DeBrand | Fort Wayne, IN

Visit the beautiful corporate headquarters and see the chocolatiers in action when you view the chocolate-making kitchens. DeBrand offers both open public tours and private scheduled group tours. Tours vary as production varies daily.

South Bend Chocolate Company | South Bend, IN

Adults and children alike will enjoy a tour of the 58,000-square-foot South Bend Chocolate Company factory and museum. Tour guests are led through the entire chocolate-making process and treated to a sample at the end of the tour.

#South Bend Chocolate Company

Maine Candy Factory & Chocolatier Tours

Haven’s Candies | Westbrook, ME

Free self-directed window tours are available at the Westbrook location anytime the candy shop is open. Additionally, the open house is typically held every year on Columbus Day when the public is invited to come make their own candy.

#Haven’s Candies

Massachusetts Candy Factory & Chocolatier Tours

Harbor Sweets | Salem, MA

Harbor Sweet offers tours that can be arranged by email.

#Harbor Sweets

Taza | Somerville, MA

Book a tour of the Somerville chocolate factory where you can watch chocolate being made. Tour guides are hand to answer questions about the process.

Visit the Official Taza Amazon Store

Michigan Candy Factory & Chocolatier Tours

Chocolates by Grimaldi | Grand Haven, MI

Learn about chocolate from pod to bean and indulge in FREE samples! See where the chocolatiers create their recipes and watch our 38-foot enrober in action at this Michigan chocolate factory tour.

#Chocolates by Grimaldi

Gilbert Chocolates | Jackson, MI

Gilbert Chocolates free tour includes information about how chocolate is made, the history of Gilbert Chocolates, and an opportunity to watch the chocolate creation artists at work.

Visit the Official Gilbert Chocolates Amazon Store

#Gilbert Chocolates

Nevada Candy Factory & Chocolatier Tours

Ethel M Chocolates | Las Vegas, NV

Visit the Las Vegas factory and flagship store to experience a self-guided tour, gourmet chocolate and wine tastings, and walk the cactus gardens.

Visit the Official Ethel M Chocolates Amazon Store

#Ethel M Chocolates

Kimmie Candy | Reno, NV

Visit the biggest little candy store in the world for a variety of candies and a virtual factory tour.

Shop Kimmie Candy on Amazon

#Kimmie Candy

French Broad Chocolates | Asheville, NC

Classroom factory tours, private tours, chocolate and wine tastings, and more. Tours include an overview of cacao farming, a guided viewing of the chocolate factory, and plenty of tastings.

#French Broad Chocolates

Ohio Candy Factory & Chocolatier Tours

Anthony-Thomas Candy Company | Columbus, OH

Tour groups can experience candy making from start to finish in the 152,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art candy factory. Walk along the comfortable, glass-enclosed suspended cat-walk and observe nine lines producing 30,000 pounds of chocolates per shift. The experienced tour guide explains each process step-by-step from the kitchen to the final packaging. View the huge copper kettles where the centers of some of the candies are created and the unique silver-wrapped pipes that carry liquid chocolate throughout the factory.

Visit the Official Anthony Thomas Amazon Store

#Anthony-Thomas Candy Company

Fannie May Chocolate | North Canton, OH

Explore the Fannie May factory with a behind-the-scenes look at how they carefully craft gourmet chocolates. Enjoy the enchanting aroma of fresh chocolate and get an exclusive look at the love and passion behind each chocolate.

Visit the Official Fannie May Chocolates Amazon Store

#Fannie May Chocolate

Spangler Candy Museum & Store | Bryan, OH

Spangler Candy Company has been in business for more than 110 years and is still family-owned. The new museum highlights the history of Spangler Candy Company’s products, achievements, and leadership since 1906. 

Visit the Official Spangler Candy Amazon Store

Pennsylvania Candy Factory & Chocolatier Tours

Hershey’s Chocolate World | Hershey, PA

Hershey’s Chocolate World is more than a factory tour, it’s an entire chocolate adventure. Ride the train to colorful candy worlds, meet Hershey’s characters, create your own candy bar, and even go on a chocolate factory ride.

Visit the Official Hershey’s Amazon Store

#Hershey’s

Tennessee Candy Factory & Chocolatier Tours

Olive & Sinclair | Nashville, TN

Learn about Olive & Sinclair and the unique process of making bean-to-bar chocolate on a 30-45 minute walking tour of the facility.

#Olive & Sinclair

Texas Candy Factory & Chocolatier Tours

The Chocolate Gallery | Bryan, TX

Tours and field trips offer an hour-long, in-depth tour of The Chocolate Gallery facility and operations. Learn about the production of cacao into chocolate and traditional candy making concluded by a chocolate tasting.

#The Chocolate Gallery

Vermont Candy Factory & Chocolatier Tours

Lake Champlain Chocolates | Burlington, Stowe, & Waterbury Center, Vermont

Visit Lake Champlain Chocolates stores at multiple locations in Vermont where you can try factory seconds and enjoy an expresso.

#Lake Champlain Chocolates

Washington Candy Factory & Chocolatier Tours

Boehm’s Candies | Issaquah, WA

Free, self-guided window tours are available anytime during regular retail hours. Public and private guided tours are available by reservation.

#Boehm’s Candies

Theo Chocolate | Seattle, WA

Discover the origins of cacao, and see how chocolate is crafted from scratch. You’ll get an inside view of the factory to see where the chocolate is made and enjoy a tasting at the end of the tour.

Visit the Official Theo Chocolate Amazon Store

#Theo Chocolate

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Libertyorchards.com located in Cashmere, WA. Wonderful tour – makers of the original Aplets and Cotlets and also have a large variety of other candy products.

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Chocolate Factory Tours!

  tours are back, visit the home of chocolate chocolate chocolate company & bissinger's handcrafted chocolatier.

Fulfill a childhood dream and visit the Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company factory, candy kitchen and world headquarters! The Abel Family opened their new plant in 2012 and offers FREE factory tours 5-days-a-week! We will take you down onto the factory floor so you can see, hear, smell and taste chocolates right in front of your eyes! We will show you our candy kitchen and chocolate enrobers - so you can watch our candy makers hand make chocolates right in front of your eyes! Our Chocolate factory is becoming a popular St. Louis tourist destination, with over 50,000 visitors each year!

FACTORY TOURS ARE FREE OF CHARGE!

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LINDT HOME OF CHOCOLATE

Schokoladenplatz 1 8802 Kilchberg Switzerland

• Pilot Plant

An interactive journey of discovery in the chocolate museum

Did you know that you used to be able to pay for things with cocoa beans? You can find out how this came about, and many other fascinating facts all about chocolate in our exhibition, the multimedia chocolate tour. Experience the world of chocolate with all your senses: from its creation and cultural significance to chocolate tastings. School classes can only visit the chocolate tour with a complimentary guide.

Chocolate tour with audioguide

Join us on an exciting tour through the world of chocolate! Journey back to the origins of chocolate and experience how cocoa conquered Europe. Meet the Swiss chocolate pioneers who sweetened our lives with their inventions. Marvel at all the work it takes to transform cocoa beans into melt-in-your-mouth chocolate. Follow the chocolate manufacturing process in our modern test facilities. And find out just how irresistible Swiss chocolate is for yourselves.

Cocoa cultivation

Cocoa is the origin of chocolate and its main ingredient. Cocoa has a long journey to take before it is processed into chocolate. Come with us on a journey to Ghana and watch our cocoa farmers at work.

The cocoa tree produces the most important raw material for chocolate

Exhibition Design: ATELIER BRÜCKNER

The interactive history of chocolate experience. / Exhibition Design: ATELIER BRÜCKNER

Chocolate history

Join us as we travel to Central America to discover the secrets of chocolate dating back thousands of years. Witness Spanish explorers bringing the exotic drink back to the royal courts of Europe – and how it gradually conquers the rest of the world from there.

The Swiss pioneers

How is it that the small, mountainous country in the heart of Europe, became the ultimate “capital of chocolate”? There are many different answers to this. Meet the Swiss pioneers whose inventions revolutionize the world of chocolate in the 19th century.

Inventive spirit of the Swiss chocolate pioneers. / Exhibition Design: ATELIER BRÜCKNER

Chocolate tasting in the Lindt Home of Chocolate. / Exhibition Design: ATELIER BRÜCKNER

Chocolate tasting

Discover the great variety of LINDOR and let yourself be seduced by the creamy melting filling, covered in the finest Lindt chocolate. Created with love and passion by the Lindt Maîtres Chocolatiers.

Chocolate production

In chocolate production, the experience and passion of Master Chocolatiers meet the latest technology and efficient machines. Follow every step of the process that transforms the beans into cocoa liquor, then into liquid chocolate, and finally into perfect bars and pralines.

Find out more about chocolate production here. / Exhibition Design: ATELIER BRÜCKNER

The large pilot plant

The pilot plant is at the heart of everything our engineers and researchers do in the Lindt Home of Chocolate. Here we reveal the secrets of how our incomparable chocolate is made and show you what happens in our real chocolate factory. Follow new products as they are created.

Chocolate, Schokolade, chocolat, cioccolato or qiaokèlì?

A Lindt Master Chocolatier invites you on a journey of discovery into the world of chocolate via audio guide. Every time you reach a whisk symbol, the Master Chocolatier will explain something important, exciting or interesting to you. The interactive tour is available in the following languages:

German & English (additional audio guide for children)

Your personal guided tour through the chocolate museum

«choco-deluxe».

On this 90-minute guided tour, you will gain further insights into the world of cocoa and the production of chocolate. We will show you how the cult drink of the Mayans became a luxury drink in Europe, and ultimately chocolate for ordinary people everywhere. In addition to the tasting stations in the exhibition and the tasting of creamy melting LINDOR creations with a Maître Chocolatier, we also offer you the exclusive opportunity to taste ingredients and preliminary products of chocolate production. Dive into the world of chocolate.

«CHOCO SCHOOL II»

Chocolate: a treat for all? During this tour, your school class will deal specifically and in more detail with the challenges in the cocoa sector. Various sustainability factors play an important role, both from an historical point of view and regarding the future. The pupils will learn interesting facts about the activities of chocolate manufacturers and jointly think about ways of enabling them to make their own contribution. The tour is complemented by exclusive tastings of pre-products and finest chocolate. The 90-minute tour is suitable for children from 6th to 12th grade and is free of charge – admission tickets are, however, compulsory for all participants.

A guide will lead the school class (up to 26 people) through the exhibition, the teacher being responsible for supervising them.

Our opening times

Monday to Sunday

10.00 am – 7.00 pm  

Last entry to the museum is one hour before closing.

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Book your ticket in advance

Due to high demand, we kindly ask you to book your ticket online in advance. Check the current availability here .

Factory Tours

Factory tours – offering self-guided and guided tours (for 20+).

Looking for something fun and educational to do? Consider visiting Platter’s Chocolate Factory for a fun filled experience that will not disappoint!

We offer self-guided tours that include public viewing areas with looping videos that will guide you through our candy manufacturing process.

For groups of 20 or more, we are happy to offer guided tours where a Team Member will lead you to view the chocolate manufacturing process along with photos of the rich history of Platter’s Chocolate Factory and the iconic Wurlitzer Building. (Please contact us  using the form below to schedule a tour for your group of 20 or more.)

Both tours are great, and you can expect to learn about the chocolate candy making process, the history of Platter’s Chocolate Factory, and the historic Wurlitzer Building. Some of the things you will find as you wander around our space include:

• Pouring Room – This is where we make our molded candies in orange chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, dark orange chocolate, and white chocolate.
• Kitchen - We cook our candies including caramels, jellies, creams, brittles, nuts, popcorn our famous sponge candy and so much more!
• Bakery - Where you can watch our bakers whip up our homemade pastries, muffins, homestyle cookies and you can even watch them as they beautifully decorate our shortbread cookies.
• Enrobing Line – This is where we run all the candies from the kitchen.  The cooked candy is placed on an enrobing line and heads down the line to get covered in creamy chocolate.
• You can poke around the store and seating areas to see some fantastic pictures that showcase the Wurlitzer Building in its prime and even Mr. Platter himself in the basement of his house where it all started.  There is also a great picture of Roger Urban who purchased Platter’s Chocolate Factory in 1973 and owned it until he passes away in 1992.  His son, Joe is at the helm today and working with almost 100 team members (including family) to offer WNY’s Sweetest Destination. 

After enjoying your self-guided tour, you can grab a coffee, bubble tea, or ice cream and relax in front of one of our fireplaces or on our outdoor patio.  If you have any questions during your self-guided tour, we have a tremendous staff to help answer your questions.

Chocolate production runs year-round with seasonal production schedules.

Store & Café Hours

Monday – Friday: 7:00am – 9:00pm Saturday: 8:00am – 9:00pm Sunday: 10:00am – 9:00pm

*During the summer months we are open until 10:00pm.

Production/Manufacturing Hours:

Daily production hours are from mid-September through mid-April Monday – Friday: 8:00am – 3:00pm

*Seasonal hours during summer months will vary. Please call us at 716-693-5391 for an up-to-date schedule.

Groups are welcome to visit our facility even when production is not actively running. We have public viewing areas with looping video that describes what you are seeing behind glass.

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Experiences

Tours & events.

Chocolate experiences, classes, and personalized tours, led by our expert team

1 Hr. Durations

Guided Walk

Walk through our historic brick 16 th Street factory with an expert Chocolate Educator: View our entire production line, and enjoy plenty of samples, from fresh cacao pulp to finished chocolate. Weekdays until 2 p.m., you're likely to see our Chocolate Makers in action, and catch the aroma of freshly roasting cocoa beans. On weekends, we have the factory to ourselves; we'll dive deeper into chocolate history, as well as our own sourcing and production processes. Both tour versions include lots of chocolate tasting.

16 th Street Factory

Starting At

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GIFTS, DRINKS, PASTRIES, TASTINGS, SITE RENTAL

Classes & Events

curated ingredients, tools, and recipes: the best kind of structured creativity

Baking with Dandelion: Chocolate Raspberry Cake

1.5-2 Hours

$100 / Person

6 pm, Wednesday, APRIL 10

Join us for a delightful evening led by Pastry Chef Stephen Durfee. Learn his new techniques for crafting a decadent and delicious cake, using Dandelion chocolate. Engage in a hands-on activity with your loved ones as we guide you through each step of assembling and decorating your cake (using pre-baked components), while hearing Stephen’s expert tips on pastry making and decorating. This class is meant for beginners and beyond, and is a lovely way to share something delicious with a loved one!

Exploration of Chocolate and Brown Spirits

$125 / Person

7 pm, friday, APRIL 12

Hosted at our 16th Street location, this 90 minute experience is the perfect introduction to tasting and pairing craft chocolate with a variety of spirits; including bourbon, rum, scotch whiskey and reposado tequila. We will taste through three origins of chocolate and four types of spirits while learning a brief history of both. Must be 21 years or older to attend this experience. We will verify age upon arrival.

Baking with Dandelion: Cream Pie

EDUCATIONAL

6 pm, WednesdayS STARTING MAY 1

Just in time for Pi(e) Day, we put together this hands-on activity to guide you through each step of assembling and decorating your own chocolate cream pie (using pre-baked components). Our Curriculum Director, Chef Stephen Durfee, will share his expert tips on pastry making and decorating. This class is meant for beginners and beyond, and is a lovely way to introduce yourself to the world of pastry.

Chocolate & Whiskey Pairing

Educational

6 pm, Friday, june 14

Hosted at our 16 th Street location, this 90 minute experience is the perfect introduction to tasting and pairing craft chocolate with Irish Whiskey. We will taste through three origins of chocolate and four types of whiskey while learning a brief history of both. Must be 21 years or older to attend this experience. We will verify age upon arrival.

Tea & Chocolate Dessert Pairing

$115 / Person

SUNDAY, May 12th, 12 PM

We worked with Bay Area tea expert Jody Beavers from Tap Twice Tea to curate this guided exploration of tea and single-origin dark chocolate. Taste through three distinctive tea-and-chocolate pairings as we briefly discuss production processes and flavor development. As a finale, Chef Stephen Durfee will prepare a special dessert to be enjoyed with your last pairing of the evening.

This experience includes: - Guided tasting flight of three tea-and-chocolate pairings; - Chocolate dessert; - A chocolate drink from our café; - A gift to take home.

Bubbly and gifts are offered for an additional cost.

Truffle Making

6 pm fridayS

Our truffle-making class is a fun, interactive activity to enjoy with family, friends, or teammates. Learn the process of blending creamy ganache using our two-ingredient chocolate, then hand-roll your ganache into truffles. We supply all necessary materials (including truffle toppings) to make a generous truffle batch — simply arrive ready to plunge your hands in chocolate.

Chocolate Making

INTERMEDIATE

$160 / Person

11 AM SATURDAYS

Follow simple steps to craft your very own batch of single-origin, two-ingredient chocolate, using our cocoa nibs and organic sugar. Our Educators offer hands-on instruction, while explaining the science and mechanics behind exceptional chocolate making. You'll leave with an appreciation of the chocolate maker's art, along with your just-made chocolate to share with friends and family.

Chocolate Tasting

$55 / Person

4 PM SATURDAYS

Taste your way through a flight of five distinctive chocolate bars, featuring a range of the flavor notes — from fudgy to fruity — that may be found in chocolate made of well-fermented cocoa beans. Expand and refine your palate as you learn specialized techniques and specific vocabulary to identify tasting notes in chocolate. You'll depart with knowledge that will enliven any future chocolate adventure.

Chocolate 101: Introduction to Craft Chococlate

$40 / Person

6 pm WednesdayS

This class is one of our favorites — interactive and engaging, with light, fun content. It is a perfect introduction to single-origin, two-ingredient craft chocolate. We explore many of the common ingredients used in craft chocolate bars, tasting each component individually, and learning about its' purpose. For a delicious finale, you will participate in a blind taste test of a variety of chocolate bars from other makers, and try to guess which ingredients are present.

Chocolate Tempering

On Specific Saturdays

In our Chocolate Making class, we learn about bean-to-bar chocolate production from dried cocoa beans to melted, refined chocolate. Our Tempering class teaches you what comes next — the process of tempering chocolate to create a smooth, shiny, delicious chocolate bar with a perfect, snappy crystal structure. Our Educators will guide you through the mechanics of tempering two-ingredient chocolate, and the process of foiling and wrapping a Dandelion chocolate bar. In addition, you will prepare chocolate mendiants from tempered chocolate. You will leave class with 28 finished mediants, as well as three full-sized finished chocolate bars — hand-wrapped in gold foil and custom-patterned paper, with your own blank label.

Date Night with Dandelion

Demonstration

$50 / Person

6 pm thursdayS

Join Chocolate Curriculum Director Chef Stephen Durfee for a live dessert demonstration in Bloom, our intimate chocolate salon inside our 16 th Street factory. Stephen prepares a new chocolate dessert recipe each week, emphasizing classic pastry and chocolatier techniques, then shares the finished treats with you.

DINING AT BLOOM

We’re excited to let you know that we are officially open with limited hours, Thursdays through Saturday (for now). Come visit us and enjoy exclusive menu items, such as chocolate-almond Babka French Toast; a freshly baked chocolate Soufflé topped with house-made cocoa-nib ice cream; and much more. Available for walk-ins or contact Guest Care to reserve space for private event.

THURSDAY: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM friday: 7:30 AM - 6:30 PM saturday: 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM

OFF-SITE EXPERIENCES

Our classes, tastings, and events may be tailored into private, off-site experiences at your request. Please contact us to design your special experience.  

VIRTUAL EVENTS

order your kit, then sign up for your online class

To take part in our virtual classes, first purchase your class’s corresponding set in our web store.

Your class materials will be shipped to you, along with a URL to sign up (and a discount code to bring your registration fee down to $0)

Sign up for your class and choose a time that works for you. Enjoy!

VIRTUAL CHOCOLATE TASTING

Team Building

$75 / Person

5 pm, friday

You’ll receive a flight of five distinctive chocolate bars, featuring a range of the flavor notes — from fudgy to fruity — that may be found in chocolate made of well-fermented cocoa beans. With guidance from an expert Chocolate Educator, you’ll expand and refine your palate as you learn specialized techniques and specific vocabulary to identify tasting notes in chocolate. You'll gain knowledge that will enliven any future chocolate adventure.

Already ordered your kit?

REGISTER FOR CLASS

Please email [email protected] with any questions.

experience cacao farming and chocolate-making up-close and personal, while building relationships with other chocolate enthusiasts.

Zorzal Estate, Dominican Republic

Coming 2024.

Travel to Reserva Zorzal, where you'll hike to and spend the night on a cacao farm and bird sanctuary. Dive deep into cacao farming, taste varieties of cacao fruit directly from trees, and learn about cacao genetics and fermentation.

Visit Hawaiian cacao farms and chocolate makers, sample cacao and tropical fruit at its place of origin, and experience local Hawaiian culture.

Request a Private Experience for Your Group

Most of our classes, tastings, and events may be made private for your group. Please submit the form below, telling us what sort of personalized experience you'd like to create, and we'll be in touch.

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Unwrap Your Chocolate Adventure

Step inside a sweet experience for your senses, where there’s chocolate in the air and dessert is always on the menu. Sip milkshakes, become a chocolatier, be a kid in a candy store ... all at HERSHEY’S CHOCOLATE WORLD Attraction!

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Adventures for All Ages

Some of the best memories are made at no cost at all! We love these beloved traditions at HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATE WORLD: FREE events, a ride on the HERSHEY'S Chocolate Tour (with sweet sample!), visiting characters, meandering our jungle and more.

Discover New Reasons to Visit This Spring

Check out what's new this season, plus inside tips to make your trip one to remember!

Sweet Touches for Your Spring Celebrations

Celebrate BIG This Season

Spring brings showers, weddings, graduations, Mother's Day, Father's Day - and we've got all the fixings to make each one memorable! Check out our World's Largest collection, bulk candy, personalized favors and more - both in-store and online.

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Maximize your fun and savings with our ticket bundles!  

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Buy online in advance & save!  $73.50 | ages 3+

Today's Hours

Can't miss things to do.

Happenings at HERSHEY’S CHOCOLATE WORLD

Create new memories with your favorite HERSHEY'S Characters!

Earth Day is coming up! Visit the oasis inside our store to find the cacao pods that produce our famous HERSHEY'S Chocolate. Lots of fun facts, too!

Make your own REESE'S and HERSHEY'S creations, candy mixes, personalized wrappers and more.

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We'd love to see - and share - all the wonderful memories you make at HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATE WORLD! Use  #ChocolateWorld on Instagram for a chance to be featured or upload your image below.

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Be the first to hear about our sweet events, news, and special offers.

Come see how we make our award-winning single origin chocolate!

Visit our chocolate factory!  Learn about how we source our beans and see each step of our chocolate making process, including roasting, grinding, pressing and molding. Tours last approximately ninety minutes and include the factory tour as well as a chance to taste different cacao beans.

At the end of the tour we’ll do a tasting of three different bars inside our 1800’s barn, where you’ll also be able to purchase our full line of chocolate bars and hot cocoa.

Please note that there is a lot of walking and standing during the tour.  And due to extremely limited parking we ask that groups try to arrive in one vehicle.  Thanks!

Book Your Tour 

Chocolate Factory Tour

Taking a tour of the Aggie Chocolate Factory allows you to witness the entire process of chocolate production, starting from cocoa beans all the way to the final delicious product. It's a wonderful chance to gain insights into the art of chocolate making and understand the various steps involved.

After the tour, you'll have the opportunity to explore the shop, where you'll find a wide selection of delicious and award-winning chocolates made exclusively at the Aggie Chocolate Factory. With such a range of options, you're sure to find something to satisfy your sweet tooth. Enjoy the tour and indulge in the delectable chocolate!

Tour options

  Small groups & walk-ins for up to 15 people - $25 redeemable in store *

• Walk right in and as long as we have staff available, we would be pleased to offer a factory tour. The fee for walk-in tours for groups of 15 or fewer is $25 which can be redeemed in-store for regularly priced Aggie Chocolate Factory products. Add a mini-tasting** session for $3 per person (non redeemable).

Large groups of 16 or more people - $45 redeemable in store*

• Please call to schedule a tour for your group of 15 or more. Large group tours have a minimum fee of $45, plus an additional $3 per person above 15. All fees are redeemable for an equivalent value of regularly priced Aggie Chocolate Factory products. Includes a mini-tasting** session. Please call the Aggie Chocolate Factory 435-797-6427 to schedule your Large Group Tour.

Utah State University Clubs, Departments, Colleges, and Offices

• Please call or email to arrange tours or private tasting sessions. T. 435-797-6427 E. [email protected]  

Public Schools  

Aggie Chocolate Factory – Private Chocolate Tasting Experience

• Click for information about Private Chocolate Tasting Experience

** ** The mini-tasting session is a condensed sensory experience and a great option if you do not have time for our complete Chocolate Tasting Experience. Compare 3 samples of Aggie Chocolate Factory artisan chocolate with 3 samples of well-known major brand chocolate.

Home » Activities » Museums » Food Museums & Factories

15 Best Swiss chocolate factories, workshops and tours

• Last Updated: 5 Jan 2023
• By Tanya, Founder of Swiss Family Fun

If you buy something through a link here, we may earn a commission. See our disclosure policy . Note that p rices and opening times may change without notice.

Switzerland is world famous for its delicious chocolate. Whether you are traveling to or living in Switzerland, you should indulge in the many fun chocolate experiences in this country, including chocolate factories with visitor centers, workshops, tastings and chocolate-themed city tours. 

Which chocolate museum is the best?

1. lindt home of chocolate (near zürich), 2. mastrani chocolarium – best for kids (near appenzell), 3. maison cailler – the classic (near lausanne), 4. aeschbach chocowelt (near lucerne), 5. max chocolatier (zürich & lucerne), 6. chez camille bloch – discovery world (near bern) , 7. alprose chocolate experience (near lugano), 8. swiss chocolate adventure at swiss museum of transport (near lucerne), 8. honold schoggitram (zürich), 9. garcoa schoggi safari (zürich), 10. la flor (zürich), 11. funky chocolate club (interlaken), 12. choco emotions (neuchatel), 13. self-guided chocolate tour of zürich, 14. chocolate indulge tour of zürich, 15. geneva chocolate walking tour, chocolate factories & museums.

Most of these chocolate factories are all pretty similar: a multi-media tour about the history of chocolate through the ages and specifically in Switzerland, how cocoa beans are grown, harvested and processed, view of factory equipment, and a chocolate tasting.

At the end of the tour, you can often make and decorate your own chocolate bar for an extra fee (about CHF 10). Many chocolate factories also offer more in depth chocolate workshops that must be booked in advance. 

As I detail below, some have more fun activities for the kids, some have slicker presentations, some are info heavy, others are more entertaining. I would just pick one that is the closest to where you are. They are all fun!

Everyone was so happy Lindt finally opened a chocolate museum at its Kilchberg factory near Zürich. Their interactive museum is beautiful and very educational, with an immense amount of information both on displays and through the audio guide. Although there are a few games for kids (and an audio guide specifically kids), it’s not the most entertaining option on our list.

We liked the multiple chocolate tasting stations through the museum, including chocolate fountains and a dispenser where you have to guess the chocolate flavor. They also offer chocolate making workshops, which are particularly popular for holidays like Christmas and Easter where you make the signature bear and bunny shaped chocolates.

Website: www.lindt-home-of-chocolate.com Address: Seestrasse 204, 8802 Kilchberg Open: daily 10:00 – 18:00 (closed on some holidays) Cost 2023: CHF 15/adult, CHF 10/child aged 8-15, under 8 free. Buy tickets here  

See our full review of Lindt Home of Chocolate

This chocolate factory and museum is our favorite of the bunch because it’s all about the fun, with wacky styling influenced by Willy Wonka. So many interactive exhibits to keep the kids busy: buttons to push, knobs to pull, dials to spin and selfie booths with props.

During the week at certain hours, you can see the real factory machines running, forming and wrapping real chocolates, not fake machines just for display like at other chocolate factories.

There are lots of chocolate tasting throughout the tour, including chocolate fountains and dispensers of flavored chocolate bars. At the end of the tour, you can decorate a chocolate bar for CHF 10. They also have a variety of chocolate workshops which must be booked in advance.

Website: www.chocolarium.ch Address: Toggenburgerstrasse 41, 9230 Flawil Open: Tues – Fri 10:00 to 18:00, Sat & Sun 10:00 to 17:00 ( see current schedule ) Cost 2023: CHF 14/adult, CHF 8/child aged 6-16, under 6 free.

See our full review of Maestrani’s Chocolarium

It’s all about the history here, since Cailler was the first proper chocolate maker in Switzerland. The history part of the tour has a multi-media show about the history of Swiss chocolate that moves you through a series of rooms as doors close behind you. So you can’t move freely around following your interests. But once that part ends, you can freely explore the chocolate production area.

The chocolate tasting has changed for the pandemic, with individual disposable cups holding 4 different pralines, instead of a long buffet. But you can still eat as many as you like. You can decorate a chocolate bar in the gift shop. They also offer chocolate workshops that must be booked in advance.  

Website: cailler.ch Address: Rue Jules Bellet 7, 1636 Broc Open: daily 10:00 to 17:00 (except 25 Dec and 1 Jan) Cost 2023: CHF 15/adult, CHF 12/students and seniors, CHF 5/child 6-15, under 6 free. 

See our full review of Maison Cailler .

Aeschbach is well known in Switzerland as the producer of the Schoggitaler chocolate coins sold by school children as a fundraiser (my kids have done this every year). Like other chocolate factory visitor centers, you walk through a series of decorated rooms with a variety of interactive display teaching you about the history and production of chocolate.

During the tour you can sample chocolate, including small chocolate cubes of varying cocoa percentages, chocolate coins and chocolate fountain with toppings. On weekdays you can see people working on the chocolate factory floor. After the museum tour, you can make your own chocolate bar for CHF 10.

Website: aeschbach-chocolatier.ch Address: ChocoDromo 1, 6037 Root Open: daily 10:00 to 17:00 (excluding public holidays) Cost 2023: CHF 15/adult, CHF 8/child aged 6-16, under 6 free. 

See full review of Chocowelt from Our Swiss Experience

One of the best chocolatiers in Switzerland, with wide range of luxurious chocolate confections. We particularly like their unusual praline flavors like rosehip & hibiscus tea and madarine & safron. At their Zürich and Lucerne locations, they host offer a 60 mins chocolate tasting for up to 4 people for CHF 300. At the Lucerne location, they offer chocolate workshops ranging in price from CHF 340 – 600 for up to 4 people. 

Zürich: Schlüsselgasse 12, 8001 Zürich Lucerne: new location opening Jan 2022 Booking: maxchocolatier.com

See our full review of the Max Chocolatier tasting & workshop .

While the chocolate museum does tell a little about the general history of chocolate, it focuses more on the history of the Swiss chocolate industry, the Camille Bloch family and the popular Ragusa and Torino chocolate brands. The museum is quite stylish and fun to explore.

I particularly liked the live chocolate making demonstration, where the friendly chocolatiers temper chocolate on the marble and create the confections by hand, so you can really see the work and skill that go into make the treat. Then you can taste the items made during the demo. They offer a children’s birthday workshop, where they make Ragusa bars and chocolate fondue.

Website: www.chezcamillebloch.ch Address: Rue Jules Bellet 7, 1636 Broc Open: summer season Tues – Sun 9:30 to 18:00 ( see current opening times ) Cost 2023: CHF 15/adult, CHF 9/child aged 6-16, under 6 free with parent. 

See our full review of the Chez Camille Bloch  

Alprose is not as well known to consumers as other Swiss brands, but it’s quite delicious. They make one of my favorite dark chocolates, particularly for baking. We like this company because their chocolate is produced CO 2 -neutrally and they use sustainable packaging materials.  In addition to general chocolate history, the Alprose chocolate museum focuses on the story of the Alprose brand.

This museum is not quite as fancy as other chocolate factories, but they have one of the best live factory floor experiences, with many chocolate machines in view (running only on weekdays). At the end of the tour, you can taste chocolate in their “Nostalgia” shop. 

Website: www.alprose.ch Address: Via Rompada 36, 6987 Caslano Open: Mon – Sat 9:00 – 17:00 Cost 2023: CHF 5/adults, CHF 2/children aged 6-15, free under 6 yrs old

This chocolate tour is an optional paid attraction at the Swiss Museum of Transport (aka Luzern Verkehrhaus), not included with your museum entrance fee. On the “Swiss Chocolate Adventure”, you ride through 10 rooms on an automated traveling cart, learning about the history of chocolate, the ins and outs of chocolate production and the Swiss chocolate industry.

Our friend Hana reported on this for us and thought it was a little expensive for what you get compared to other chocolate factories in Switzerland. For example, instead of “all you can eat” chocolate tastings, you only get two Lindt chocolate balls during the tour.

The website says that visitors of the Swiss Chocolate Adventure may participate in the chocolate tastings at the Lindt gift shop there, including a chocolate fountain, implying this is included with your ticket. We’ll have to investigate this next time we go.

See full review on Our Swiss Experience

Website: www.verkehrshaus.ch Address: Lidostrasse 5, 6006 Luzern Open: Tours start at 13:00 on weekdays and 11:00 on weekends.  Cost 2023: CHF 18/adults, CHF 14/students (17-26), CHF 8/children under age 16

Chocolate Tastings

These Swiss companies offer chocolate tastings for small groups. 

For a couple weeks at the end of October and beginning of November, the Honold Confiserie hosts a chocolate tram, where you ride around the city for about 20 mins while you drink hot chocolate, eat cake and taste a variety of chocolate pralines. There are limited spots, which book out quickly. So put this on your calendar and start checking the website in late September. 

Location: Zürich Bellevue tram stop Cost: CHF 20/adult, CHF 10/child under 16 Duration: 30 minutes Booking: www.honold.ch

See our full review of the Honold Schoggi-Tram

Garcoa is a small batch “bean to bar” chocolate company, producing high quality chocolate bars in close cooperation with cocoa farmers. Their chocolate bars are carried in many specialty shops throughout Switzerland.

They offer a fantastic “Schoggi Safari” tour, where you learn about their chocolate production process in their small facility and taste all their chocolate bars. The safari is only available a few times a year. 

Location: Butzenstasse 60, 8038 Zurich Duration: 60-90 mins Cost: CHF 20/person Booking: www.garcoa.ch/schoggisafari

La Flor is a gourmet small batch chocolate produced in Zürich and sold at fine resellers around the city. On two afternoons a week, you can visit the La Flor production facilities in Zürich for free and sample their chocolates.

Location: Uetlibergstrasse 65, 8045 Zürich When: Thurs & Fridays 15:00 – 18:00 Cost: free More info: laflor.ch

Chocolate Workshops

These locations offer chocolate making workshops, but do not have a factory floor or chocolate museum. We haven’t tried any of them. I just leave them here as reference.

If you are traveling to the Jungfrau Region, the closest chocolate experience is at the Funky Chocolate Club in Interlaken. They offer chocolate workshops, where you learn about the origins of chocolate then learn how to create a chocolate bar from tempering the chocolate to pouring and filling techniques. You also get to eat as much chocolate as you like during the workshop. Workshops are held in English and last 75 minutes. Must book in advance.

Address: Postgasse 10, 3800 Interlaken, Switzerland Open: generally workshops Wed – Sun at 11:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00  Cost: Chocolate workshop CHF 69/adults, CHF 59/children aged 4-14 Booking: funkychocolateclub.com

Choco Emotions offers a variety of workshops, which can be booked for a group (usually a minimum of 8-12 participants). The owner wanted to keep alive the chocolate tradition of Suchard, which used to have its factories in the Neuchâtel. The website is only in French, so I assume the workshops are also held in French. We haven’t tried Choco Emotions workshops ourselves, so we can’t vouch personally for the experience. 

Address: Rue des Amandiers 2, 2000 Neuchâtel Open: private groups on demand  Cost: Workshop prices range from CHF 25 – CHF 95 Booking: www.choco-emotions.ch

Chocolate Tours

Visit the 10 best chocolate shops in Zürich while seeing some of the best parts of city on this self-guided walking tour. It’s free to use. You’re only cost is any chocolate you want to buy along the way. See map and details for Self-guided Chocolate Tour of Zürich

Cost: free tour, suggested budget of CHF 20/person for chocolate tastings along the way Duration: about 90 mins (3.3 km)

This private tour visits a variety of confectionaries, artisan chocolatiers and other chocolate sites as you walk around Zürich. Along the way, you learn about Swiss chocolate history and taste a variety of sweets. At the end of the tour, you learn how to taste and pair chocolate with a connoisseur. 

Dates: available for booking on weekdays Cost 2023: 1-3 people CHF 320, cost varies for larger groups Duration: 2.5 hrs Booking: www.zuerich.com

On this three hour walking tour of Geneva, you’ll visit 5 chocolate factories and patisseries and taste several chocolate confections along the way.

Dates: English tours on Mon – Sat 10:00 and 14:30 Cost 2023: CHF 99/adult, CHF 69/child Duration: 3 hours Booking: www.geneve.com

Note: Frey used to have a great chocolate visitor center but it sadly closed permanently during the pandemic. We have not included Läderach because, like SWISS air and others, we do not agree with their leadership’s outspoken views against the LBGTQ+ community and women’s rights.

• TAGS: Chocolate , Factory Tour , Popular

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ChocXO Offers Real Chocolate Factory Tours in Irvine

Meet ChocXO !  ChocXO (pronounced choc-zo) is a new chocolate factory and store in Irvine, California.  It is also the first bean to bar chocolate cafe in all of Southern California and the  only chocolate factory of it’s kind in Orange County that offers public tours.

ChocXO Bean to Bar Chocolatier is the brainchild of Richard Foley, a third generation chocolate guy.  For the past 30 years, Richard has immersed himself in the chocolate industry.  From distribution to manufacturing, he’s done it all.  Through his vast experience, he’s created a simple formula – the very best ingredients combined with the very best processes creates extraordinary chocolate.

A few years ago, I had the privilege of receiving a private tour of ChocXO’s chocolate factory.    During the tour, I was able to peak behind the viewing windows to see how the chocolate factory in Irvine was operated.  The entire chocolate making process was actually pretty fascinating to watch.

Cacao beans grow on trees in tropical environments in Central American.  Cacao translated means chocolate.  Once I led a field trip to Biotrek , a rainforest type environment, at Cal Poly Pomona where we got to see and taste a real chocolate bean from a cacao tree.  ChocXO is so crazy about cacao beans that they make their chocolate straight from the cacao bean!

They personally meet and work with the farmers in Central and South America whose cacao beans they source from.  ChocoXO is proud to state that their chocolate is “from farm to bar.”  They turn their beans into chocolate using a state-of-the-art production process.  They commission the industry’s leading chocolate processing equipment to roast, winnow, roller refine and conche their beans.

The first step in the process of making chocolate is to pick the cacao pods from the cacao trees.  The pods can not be picked by a machine.  They have to be cut by hand.  The coco beans grow inside a pod about the size of a deflated football.    There are about 20 to 50 beans in each pod.

The second step is to open up the pods, take out the cacao beans and allow the beans to ferment in the sun.   The fermentation process takes approximately 4 to 7 days.  During the process, they allow the pulp which holds the beans together to run off.  The leftover pulp is actually a liquor of sorts made of alcohol and vinegar.

It was interesting to learn that cacao beans are originally white before they are fermented.  Personally, I was able to taste the liquid inside the cacao pod.  It was bitter and not as sweet as I had imagined.  Adding the sweetness comes later in the process.

Step three is to allow the beans to dry out on drying racks after they have been fermented.  The drying out process takes another 3 to 4 weeks.

Step four is to roast the beans in a controlled environment.   Here they monitor the temperature and duration of how long to roast the beans.

The fifth step is to crack and grind the cacao shells.

The sixth step is to winnow and roller refine the beans.  They separate the nibs from the shell using a machine called a winnower.  Basically the beans are blown about to open up their shells and leave the inner part of the cacao bean which is called the nib.  Cacao nibs are raw chocolate, pieces of cacao beans that have been roasted, hulled (separated from their husks) and prepped to the point where all that there is left to do is process them into bars.

The seventh and final step is to conche the beans and turn them into extraordinary chocolate.   The nibs are then ground into a thick brown liquid called cacao mass.  The cacao mass is then heavily pressed until the cacao butter is squeezed out, and it is separated into cacao liquor (powder) and cacao butter.  Cacao butter and cacao mass is combined in varying proportions and the sugar and milk for milk chocolate is added.

When the chocolate is conched, the chocolate is mixed constantly at a warm temperature for a few days. The chocolate then goes to be tempered where the chocolate is warmed and then cooled again for several hours.  This is where your chocolate bar gets to it’s nice shiny, smooth finish.  The chocolate is now ready to go into the chocolate bar molds until they are completely cooled.  Then they are popped out of the molds and wrapped in foil to keep their freshness.

From this incredible liquid chocolate, ChocXO creates amazingly delicious chocolate bars, filled chocolates, chocolate bark and other chocolate specialties.   This is when I was finally able to taste their liquid gold, otherwise known as chocolate!

How to book a ChocXO tour in Irvine

Are interested in taking a tour of ChocXO?  Here’s what’s entailed.

Chocolate Experience and Chocolate Tasting Tour

A 45 minute educational tour that includes samples of the full chocolate making process and three tastes from their chocolate case.   A member of the ChocXO team walks participants through the chocolate making process from the bean to the bar.  You’ll walk along their educational wall and see a scale model of a cacao tree, learn how chocolate is fermented and dried, then view into the windows of the ChocXO factory to find out what happens next.  This in-depth look is as educational as it is delicious.  Participants will sample raw cacao pulp, cocoa nibs, cocoa liquor, and, of course, the finished product of chocolate bars, filled chocolates and chocolate bark.

Adult – $10 per person (for ages 12 and older)

Child –  $7 per person (for ages 6 to 11)

Children’s Chocolate Tour

A 20 minute guided bean to bar chocolate tour along their chocolate education wall.  Children finish their tour with two warm liquid shots of chocolate.  It is a shorter version of their popular Chocolate Tasting Tour.  This tour does not include samples of the whole chocolate making process.  While the factory is visible from their viewing windows, participants do not go back into the factory.  All children must be under direct adult supervision.  1 adult for every 2 children under the age of 8.

General Admission – $7 per person

School Field Trips and Scout Troops – $5 per person

ChocXO Discount Tour Offers

Right now ChocXO is offering a Groupon deal for select tours of their factory .  You may choose from the following three options.

$17 for a factory tour for two with a $10 gift card for the ChocXO store ($30 value)

$34 for a factory tour for four with a $20 gift card for the ChocXO store ($60 value)

$12 for $20 worth of gourmet bean-to-bar chocolate at the ChocXO store

ChocXO is located at   9461 Irvine Center Drive,  Irvine, CA 92618.  Hours of operations are  Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am – 7 pm.

Happy Field Tripping!

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Monday 20th of August 2018

You need to remove this link. ChocXO is no longer in business in the United States. Diasppointed. I used your page to plan a trip for my Girl Scouts.

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Please purchase tickets through our website to guarantee a spot on the tour.

Adults $22.13

Kids (4-12 years old) $17.46

Welcome To Chocolate Kingdom

Chocolate Kingdom, the Factory Adventure Tour, is an interactive journey that uncovers how chocolate transforms from the bean into the creamy, dreamy chocolate bar. Our Personal Chocolate Tour Guide joins forces with a handsome Prince and his Dragon sidekick to take guests through a Cacao Tree Greenhouse, a one-of-a-kind Chocolate Museum, a Mystical River of Chocolate and a Bean-to-the-Bar Factory utilizing old world machinery.

With an opportunity to customize a chocolate bar that weighs approximately 7 oz., where customers get to select the type of chocolate they want and up to 3 ingredients from our 17 selections and then we make it fresh at the end of the tour (for $9 extra), Chocolate Kingdom is the most unique chocolate experience in North America and will inspire and amaze chocoholics of all ages.

Tours last approximately 45 minutes. Samples provided throughout the tour.

• Factory Tours
• Experiences
• Meetings/Events

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Orlando Location:

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9901 Hawaiian Ct. Orlando, FL 32819 407-705-3475

Tickets to The Chocolate Factory are on sale now!

The chocolate factory.

Discover the magical world of The Chocolate Factory and dive into a universe where your sweetest dreams come true. If you want to travel to this fantasy world, book tickets now! Plenty of surprises await you.

Gingerbread Town

Cupcakes Room

Marshmallow World

Practical info

Where is it?

A colourful candyland on the first floor of Westfield London! Please see map below for exact location.

Do you have any question? Maybe you can find the answer here!

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