Imagine chocolate all around you. You eat, drink and sleep chocolate. A child’s dream? Nay, many adults’ too! Being an avid chocolate lover, my dream was fulfilled recently, while in Portugal. I was almost dunked in it and I even happily fell asleep in a chocolate room, only to emerge sweetened and satiated.
When Vijaya Pratap ate, drank and slept chocolate, in Portugal
I checked into Fábrica do Chocolate Hotel in the city of Viana do Castelo, the northern most North Atlantic City in Portugal. It is a chocolate-themed hotel housed in a century old building, where once chocolate was produced. The original chocolate factory was rebuilt, restored and revived, keeping its history and memories alive in a new avatar of a chocolate hotel. Continuing the tradition, the hotel now creates delicious chocolate experiences for the guests.
GETTING THERE
How to reach : Porto, the northern region of Portugal is well connected by flights from other parts of Europe. If by road, it is less than 4 hours drive from Lisbon.
Visa : Shengen
Currency : Euro
My room was inspired by Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory recreating the fantastic universe of Willy Wonka. One wall sported a colourful illustration that took me immediately to the grand room chocolate and the chocolate river. The headboard was a giant replica of the coveted ‘Golden Ticket’ which awarded five lucky children with a visit to the chocolate factory. Among other surprising details, there were also bedside tables shaped like Wonka’s top hat. The shower cubicle had Wonka’s silhouette with his own words “If you want to view paradise, simply look around and view it” written on the glass door. I bathed with the chocolate soap and used the chocolate body lotion in liberal doses. Need I say that I smelt chocolatey for the next few days?
Every room in the hotel had a unique surprise. A duplex suite, Assotada had the mark of Casa Grande Chocolatier. A bold decoration marked above all by the extraordinary yellow cow, a fabulous chandelier made from milk bottles and a headboard shaped like a chocolate bar.
The high cocoa percentage in dark chocolate triggers the release of endorphins and helps stabilizing serotonin. Therefore, it has always been associated with love and romance, hence the “Romance Suite” for those in love (and also with chocolate). A very special place, where an overnight stay, complemented with indulging choco therapy treatments, in room champagne, a fountain of chocolate and strawberries to dip for a mind blowing chocolate experience! A romantic drama film Chocolat (starring Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche) too found a place here as one of the themed rooms.
The interactive Chocolate Museum at Fábrica do Chocolate was an equally interesting experience, providing a trip through the origins, productive cycle of cocoa and chocolate, as well as their history. In its earliest forms, the Mayans used cocoa to create a ritual beverage that was shared during betrothal and marriage ceremonies, providing one of the first known links between chocolate and romance. A well made short film in 3D was followed by cultural interpretation of Chocolate, like in music, literature, etc.
At the restaurant, I tasted different chocolates like dark chocolate with blue salt from Persia, pine salt from Himalayas (but why salt in chocolate? It’s for the contrast the chef said). When the spicy chocolate with Tabasco arrived, my Telugu palate was truly satisfied. At the shop I picked up a chocolate beer to take back home.
Carrying my own brand of chocolate, created with my picture on it in their factory shop, I proudly checked out of the hotel after a couple of days. Thus my chocolate rendezvous ended. No,it just started – to explore more chocolate destinations around the world!
Vijaya Pratap is a freelance journalist and a documentary filmmaker, based in Hyderabad. She specialises in the study of art, culture and wildlife.
Meet the Author – Vijayapratap
