Inside a Chocolate Factory from Adam Groffman on Vimeo.
Back in December I went on a whirlwind tour through a few of Germany’s chocolate and candy factories. Now I’ve got a sweet tooth as much as any other folk, but I tend to not go overboard when it comes to candies.
My tour, sponsored by German Sweets—a German government organization set up to promote candy & chocolate export from Germany—took me all over the country and into a variety of candy/sweet factories. I got to sample a cookie right off the conveyor belt (tasted just like one right out of an oven) and eat marzipan at each level of production—from when it’s just unsweetened almonds to the 100% pure almond paste to the chocolate covered Niederegger hearts.
Maybe it was my childhood illusion from too much Willy Wonka, but I had these fantastical dreams of what it’d be like inside a candy and chocolate factory. In reality, it was a very LOUD and sterile place. People in lab coats, giant silver machines and factory lines that seemed endless.
I visited about ten different candy factories throughout Germany. The video above includes footage from a bunch of different ones, but hopefully gives you an idea of what it’s like inside a candy factory! Here’s a hint: there aren’t any Oompa Loompas.
All the makings of a Hachez chocolate bar
Almonds before they get made into marzipan paste
Chocolate Easter eggs getting hand-filled on the inside with M&Ms (or Smarties)
And bam! The finished product—CHOCOLATE
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Dave from ACoupleTravelers
22 May 2012
Really cool idea to visit chocolate factories, whereas so many people just do breweries (also cool, but not as unique). Might have to try this myself!
Read Dave from ACoupleTravelers´s last post… Cool Programs For Making Travel Maps
Adam
23 May 2012
Hmm… here’s an idea… a chocolate brewery tour! Let’s do it.
Colleen Setchell
19 May 2012
Oooh, this post has made me seriously nibblish now. I lived in Germany for nearly 3 years and I LOVED the sweets, pastries and haribo gummi bears. It’s so easy to put on weight because it’s so hard to say no to these delicious things.
Sounds like you had a wonderful opportunity to experience this around the country and so glad you could write about it here.
Read Colleen Setchell´s last post… The Cliffs of Moher
Adam
23 May 2012
Thanks for commenting Colleen.
Haribo is a big deal for me. Love it!
Arti
19 May 2012
What a tour!! Taking a tour of a chocolate factory is now my dream!!!
They look fantastic.
Adam
23 May 2012
I think there are quite a few that offer tours – or at least tastings! I did an ice cream tour a few years ago at the Ben & Jerry’s factory: http://travelsofadam.com/2010/03/inside-vermont-ben-jerrys-factory-tour/
Annette | Bucket List Journey
19 May 2012
No Oompa Loompas? Bummer! I have to agree with Roy, it looks like the best tour ever :)
Read Annette | Bucket List Journey´s last post… 12 Tips for Navigating the London Underground
Adam
23 May 2012
I know – I was totally waiting for them to jump out…but it never happened.
Roy Marvelous
18 May 2012
Sounds like the best tour ever!
Read Roy Marvelous´s last post… How I’ve Used $6186 To Travel Around The World For 8 Years