If you’ve been craving the finer things in life as of late, I’ve got one word for you (and it’s a tasty one): Switzerland. This country is a feast for your eyes and your mouth. The views are breath-taking and almost unreal (seriously, they look like something out of a movie) and their delicacies? To die for. Read on for the sumptuous sweets and savouries this country is known for.
Chocolate
I don’t know if there’s anything more stereotypically Swiss than its chocolate – and for good reason. They’re experts by this point, as they’ve been producing it since the seventeenth century. They also invented (yes, invented) milk chocolate in the 1800s when a man named Daniel Peter had the clever idea of combining his chocolate with milk from his neighbour, Henri Nestlé (hmm, I wonder why that last name sounds so familiar).
Top Tip: Hop aboard the Bell Epoque Chocolate train and visit the Cailler Factory for a sweet history lesson, hands-on classes about how to make the confectionary and tasty treats just waiting to be taste tested.
Cheese
The big cheeses (excuse the pun) in Switzerland are Gruyere and Emmentaler. If you’ve ever wondered how these delectable dairy products are made, you’re in luck – tours and tastings are readily available. Immerse yourself in Emmentaler at the Emmentaler Show Dairy where you’ll learn how to make your own cheese, or get to know Gruyere by taking a tour of the Gruyeres Factory and learning all about its production from a local dairy cow named Cherry (cheesy but deliciously entertaining). You’ll even have the opportunity to see the process in action when you stand above the production line and watch the workers craft the cheese by hand.
Top Tip: If you’re visiting in the summer, avoid eating fondue unless you don’t mind looking like a tourist. The Swiss never indulge during the warmer months (although if you really want some, it is available in restaurants all year long).
Are you ready to savour Switzerland? Chocolate, cheese and all things rich await – and everything tastes better when you’re gazing out at the Alps.
