Larra chocolaterie

Today we went to an artisan chocolate factory in Grenade. One of the ladies from one of the expat Facebook sites I am a member of had organised it, so we decided it would be fun to go along and meet some new people plus see how chocolate is made here in France. Also, Jasper didn't have football today as it is half term plus friends of ours were going along - all it all it sounded like the perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

It was a bit different from Charlie and the chocolate factory but there was a chocolate maker and lots of chocolate to try! He started off by making the liqueur to go into some chocolates and got out a bottle of apple cider which was bottled in 1937! He handed around a cup of it for us to smell and the guy beside me couldn't resist a taste and dipped his finger in to see how it tasted!

A bottle of 75 year old cider on the bench!


We couldn't really understand much of what he said as he spoke in French but he was very passionate about his chocolate making and did all his measuring by sight, memory and taste. It was fascinating to see how chocolate is traditionally made and the methods used - including putting the liquor into moulds of starch.






The favourite part though was the chocolate tasting. We were able to taste the chocolate directly from the mixer (not sure how hygienic it is with all that double dipping - but fun neverless). Jasper thought he was in chocolate heaven!!!
Notice the French chocolateries t-shirt!!















Penelope with her finger in the stream of chocolate.


A great afternoon topped off by a lovely relaxing coffee then glass of Chablis at our friends Nigel and Sarah's.

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