Barcelona’s Chocolate Culture

Barcelona may be rich in Catalonian culture and architecturally loaded with constructions by Gaudi, but, more importantly, it has chocolate and makes chocolate like nowhere else in the world. Catalonia historically embraced the use of chocolate and it is still popularly added to sweet and savory dishes. Of course, Barcelona exemplifies Catalonia’s love affair with chocolate with its boutique chocolate shops, chocolate museum, and throngs of chocolate enthusiasts.

It’s difficult to say how the people of this lovely city like their chocolate best, but it is safe to say that many prefer to start their day with a thick and frothy cup of bittersweet hot chocolate. Catalonians also like their hot chocolate on the spicy side, though it is available in a wide array of styles. This chocolate brew is also popularly served at mid-day and in the evening, too. For exceptional hot chocolate, check out Xocolateria La Xicra or Gelateria Xocolateria; these cozy venues are renowned for their deliciously thick hot chocolate and accompanying pastries.

Of course, if you desire to know more about chocolate’s history in Barcelona, consider visiting the Museu de la Xocolata, Barcelona’s chocolate museum. The museum actually traces the world history of chocolate beginning with the discovery of the cocoa bean in the Americas. Exhibits detail the commercialization of chocolate as well as its nutritional and medicinal properties. Moreover, there is no other museum in Barcelona that gives visitors a sampling of luscious chocolate at the beginning of their tour. The museum also boasts a renowned café where guests can leisurely enjoy chocolate truffles and hot chocolate. Easter is particularly exciting at the museum; it features exhibitions of monas, Easter cakes, and fabulous chocolate sculptures that defy culinary logic.

Truffles and bonbons comprise the soft-centered heart of this chocolate-loving city. It is common practice to bring an elegant box of bonbons as a gift when dining at the home of a relative or friend. Barcelona’s chocolate shops are world famous for their chocolate confections. Valor Chocolates has been making chocolate since 1891 and is known for its decorative and decadent-tasting bonbons. Other Barcelona venues for impeccable truffles and bonbons include Farga and Bubo.

Cacao Sampaka is also a premier maker of bonbons, but this chocolate market has a dazzling array of chocolate products. Dessert chocolate sauces as well as chocolate jams (think blackberry chocolate) are just a few of the treats regularly stocked there. On the other hand, visiting one of Barcelona’s Xocoa stores is a must. Xocoa has been producing extravagantly good chocolate since 1897. No visit to this city is complete without eating one of the shop’s chocolate bars along with its famous chocolate beer—yes—beer made with chocolate. For this and so many other chocolaty reasons, Barcelona is the center of the world.

Of course, a simple excursion to La Boqueria, the city’s old and enormous market, will also provide a delicious and overwhelming selection of chocolate and chocolate products. In recent years, city dwellers have favored dark chocolate with a rich concentration of cocoa. Nevertheless, it’s possible to find a thrilling assortment of milk chocolate, white chocolate, chocolate cherries, chocolate oranges, and chocolate truffles filled with everything from olive oil to hazelnuts. There may be many reasons that lead you to Barcelona, but its unsurpassed chocolate may be the one reason you’ll never want to leave this scrumptious city.