Published on: 13th September 2019
Rococo Chocolate Making Experience
Master chocolatiers Rococo – who have been making high-quality confections in Britain for over 35 years – allow visitors to take a sneak peek into their creative process during special chocolate-bar making experiences.
At these 90-minute sessions, which take place at their Belgravia shop, you will find out about the history of chocolate, how it is sourced and produced, and a variety of different flavour combinations. Once you’ve learned all there is to know about this fabulous sweet, you can get to work on creating your own bar. You will be given a masterclass in piping and decoration; and – better still – whilst the bars are cooling and setting, you’ll be invited to indulge in a chocolate tasting session, during which you’ll get to sample a variety of different chocolates, savouring new flavour combinations, tastes and textures. Best of all, when the experience ends, you can pack up your beautifully-presented bars and take them home with you.
Chocolate Ecstasy Tours
Chocolate Ecstasy Tours has been going strong since 2005. In honour of founder Jennifer Earle’s main passions (walking, talking, chocolate and London), Chocolate Ecstasy offers a range of immersive chocolate experiences in the capital – all of which are led by experienced chocoholic guides.
Each tour has been personally designed by Jennifer – one of the UK’s leading chocolate experts -meaning that every little detail has been considered and crafted. Promising small groups and expert guides, Chocolate Ecstasy also guarantee that each participant will finish their experience feeling happily full of chocolate: what’s not to love?
There are a plethora of fun experiences to choose from, such as workshops and tastings, but one of our favourites has to be the ‘Evening Chocolate Tour’ (or, as Chocolate Ecstasy also dub it, ‘the best of chocolate everything’). On this three-hour tour, participants sample delicious chocolate in all its forms – including cocoa beans, truffles, hot chocolate, gelato, and even a chocolate cocktail! You’ll be seated for some of the time and on your feet for the rest of the evening, wandering from Covent Garden to Piccadilly whilst you enjoy the architecture and street culture along with handpicked chocolate treats. The perfect night out.
Hampton Court Palace – The Chocolate Kitchen
Though it’s not technically in London (but a short train ride away in Surrey), we couldn’t leave Hampton Court Palace off our list. A magnificent destination in its own right, Hampton Court Palace has a special offering for chocolate fans: The Chocolate Kitchen. This Georgian culinary hub, which was conceived of in the 17th century but not re-opened to the public until 2014, is the last surviving kitchen of its kind in the UK.
Built by Christopher Wren in 1690 (approximately), the Chocolate Kitchens were a small, specially-designed set of rooms used by expert chocolatiers to make chocolate for kings and queens (fancy!). William III and Queen Mary II were particularly fond of this luxurious delicacy, which, during their reign, was a fairly new culinary creation – rumour has it that they would often drink hot chocolate before bed.
In the kitchen at Hampton Court, you can view the equipment that would have been used – as well as Georgian fixtures and fittings, and even the original fireplace – and scrutinise examples of the ingredients that went into this royal tipple. As well as studying original and replica kitchenware, visitors to the Chocolate Kitchen can enjoy a display that retells the story of Thomas Tosier, personal chocolate maker to George I, and his sweet confections. A must for any history buff or chocoholic!
