When you talk about French chocolate, you can’t help but mention Valrhona. Valrhona’s headquarters, training centre and La Boutique is in the little village of Tain l’Hermitage, an hour train ride from Lyon, itself a couple of hours very fast train ride south of Paris. A chocolate lovers heaven on earth, this store overflows with chocolate to be tasted, and helpful staff encouraging you to taste until you can no longer!
Tasting was the order of the day in this store, and the sophisticated ‘tasting wheel’ and tasting notes are great tools. The staff didn’t speak any English, so you’re really on your own if you can’t speak any French, in fact the same for most of the village, that I experienced. As long as you can bluff your way through a menu to order food, wine and of course chocolat … you will be fine! I would encourage anyone in this area of France to visit Valrhona, and enjoy the incredible tasting experience.
Of special note were the Chocolats Noirs – De Domaine, the entire selection presented in a beautiful timber display case. ‘Exclusive chocolates created from a selection of beans grown on a single, unique plantation’. Beans for this range of three dark 64% cacao solids chocolate had been grown in Venezuela, Madagascar and Trinidad.
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