For the Love of Chocolate

This information is taken from a COSMOS travel newsletter, I thought it'd be interesting to share with you all: (btw, I did enjoy the think pudding-like hot chocolate with churros in Spain!)

For the Love of Chocolate Chocolate has been synonymous with romance for hundreds of years. And there’s no better place to sample the world’s finest cocoa concoctions than in Europe. Here are some specialties to try out during your travels: Baci in Italy One taste of these bite-sized dark chocolate and hazelnut confections, and you’ll understand why they call it Baci, which means “kisses” in Italian. Each wrapper is inscribed with a poetic love note translated in many languages, alluding to its romantic origins. Baci was inspired by the love of Italian chocolatier, Luisa Spagnoli in 1922. Enchanted with fellow chocolate-lover, Giovanni Buitoni, she would send him secret love notes wrapped around her decadent truffles. Together, Luisa and Giovanni have made Baci a household name in Italy. :: Explore Italy Vacations Hot Chocolate in Spain After defeating Montezuma’s warriors and demanding that the Aztec nobles hand over their valuables, Cortés returned to Spain in 1528 loaded with cocoa beans and chocolate drink making equipment. The court of King Charles V soon adopted it, and “chocolate” became a fashionable drink among the Spanish upper class. It took nearly a century for chocolate to achieve popularity throughout Europe, as the Spanish kept the delicacy a guarded secret. Today, the Spanish style of hot chocolate is very thick, with the consistency of warm chocolate pudding. Many Spaniards mark the traditional end to a night out by dipping churros into this very rich chocolate libation. :: Explore Spain Vacations Pain au chocolat in France Pain au chocolat, literally translated as "bread with chocolate,” is a delectable French pastry that consists of layers of flaky dough wrapped around two morsels of dark chocolate. As a typical French breakfast food, pain au chocolat is perfect with a steaming bowl of cafe au lait or as an after-school snack for hungry children. According to baking mythology, the pain au chocolat, exists because of a happy accident. :: Explore France Vacations

Share your love of travel with an ePostcard It’s a great time to share your love of travel with your friends. Add a special personalized note to an ePostcard for a token that is both thoughtful and transporting. :: Send a Valentine ePostcard