What better way to relieve the the stress of a tough finals week (a 16 page paper, presentations, and two finals. Oh la la.) than to venture to one of the most famed chocolate factories in Switzerland and try all the samples? 

As with any Swiss adventure, this journey began with a magnificent train ride through the Swiss mountain side.  Fall came early here (on time? Living in Arkansas distorts my view of the proper transition of seasons) so the views were enough to keep us enthralled and looking out the windows.  After the train, the factory was a short bus ride away.  We accidentally took the bus for one stop too many, but we were fine with it because look at these gorgeous fall colors.  



 The tour of the factory was VERY Willy Wonka.  It began with a history of chocolate and worked through time to a history of the Cailler brand and Nestle (who came to own the brand during the Great Depression). 

The Aztec room, complete with a conquistador (not pictured) shaking in his boots, so excited about bringing chocolate back from the New World.

A little moving display room, showing the process of selecting the location for the factory.  In a surprise to no one, the happiest cows which make the sweetest milk live in the region they selected.

Then we were told all about the supply chain and production process, and were given the chance to try raw cocoa beans (If you like very dark chocolate its like 2 degrees less sweet. I liked it) and other raw elements that they use in the chocolate (nuts, cocoa butter, etc). 

We saw the production line and how modernized it has become (hint: I saw thousands of pieces of chocolate being made but only saw one person the whole time).   

Then came the important part: the samples. First the instructed us on how to professionally taste chocolate using like 18 different methods. How does the chocolate sound? How does it feel in your hands? What's the aftertaste? Seemed a bit much for me, but I'm willing to learn the process. They then gave us samples of every kind of chocolate and truffle you could imagine. Dark, milk, white, peanut butter, hazelnut center, crispy, caramel, the whole assortment. It was absolutely amazing, but left me a little parched (a girl needs some water to wash down all that chocolate). 

After we were stuffed to the brim, we made our way back to (the correct) bus stop and took in the fall colors.  We also met some precious little sheeps (friendly reminder to rush join phi lamb). 



Stress relief, achieved.