Chocolate Tasting in France
 

So I know this is a broad topic because we are still in the early planning stages of the trip. But, I am looking for suggestions on some good chocolate tastings.

We havent even formally decided what region we will be exploring :) but I know we will take our return flight home from Paris.

Anyone been on any tastings or know of some with a good reputation.

Thanks

Friends who go to Paris every fall have raved about a chocolate tasting tour they took through a walking tour company there (Paris Walks?). You could probably Google the subject and find a lot of suggestions. As for me, I think it hard to surpass the chocolate we ate in Belgium this past fall, both in Brussels and especially Bruges. If you are REALLY into chocolate you might want to consider a short trip by high speed train from Paris to Brussels!

Paris Walk does occasional chocolate walks http://www.paris-walks.com/chocolate-walk.html Their tours tend to have larger group sizes. A smaller group tour is offered by Context http://www.contexttravel.com/city/pa...chocolate-walk

If you just want to buy chocolate, some of my favorites are Jacques Genin, Jean Paul Hevin and Michel Chaudun. There are lots of other recommended chocolatiers here http://www.chocoparis.com/

I would agree for the best chocolate you should head to Belgium. We found the most incredible shop in a little corner of Bruges with two elderly ladies handmaking the chocolate every day. We brought 10 pounds back to family/friends and all said they had never had better.

Belgian chocolate has spoiled us. It's much more
to our taste than any French chocolate we've tried.

Whether you like French chocolate may depend on whether you're a milk or a dark chocolate person.

We've done do-it-yourself chocolate tours in Paris and New York City. Made a list of "best chocolates" stores, plotted walks, and bought small portions at each, tasting in store or as we walked, and rating them. We also check out chocolate shops we pass during regular (non-foodie) travels. No need for organized tours, IMHO.

Here's a chocolate and bakery tour of Paris: http://parispersonalized.com/gastronomic/bake.htm

You should check out David Lebowitz and also Paris by Mouth for chocolat tours/tastings.

I've never met much chocolate I didn't like, but don't understand a tour to eat a lot of it. How much could you eat in a few hours? I do actually prefer Swiss or Belgian to French, but the real chocolate shops in France will let you taste a little if you are considering something, as I recall. I know when I went to Debauve and Gallais in St Germain, I think they did that. That place is not cheap and one of the best, of course. https://www.debauveandgallais.com/

The OP said nothing about eating a lot of chocolat, Christina. The point of a tour isn 't gorging but sampling different types, styles, flavorings, etc...no different than visiting mutiple wineries and tasting their wines.

Although not solely devoted to chocolate Parisbymouth.com offers food tours that include chocolate tastings. We are taking the St Germain tour in June

I've done a couple walking tours in Paris, one was a chocolate and pastry tour I booked through Viator and the other one was a baguette and cheese walking tour through Context. LOVED the baguette and cheese one (we had the wonderful Meg Zimbeck as our guide... she blogs and writes about food for a living) but I hated the chocolate and pastry one because I felt we were just rushed from place to place on the itinerary and it was basically the guide giving us a short 2-3 minute intro about the chocolaterie or patisserie as we stood outside in the street, then he ran in to get samples, we got ONE small sample each), then we raced to the other destination.

I would have much preferred researching on my own and hitting 4-5 shops/day over the course of a week, as I did other fun things in Paris, and I could have saved the $120 I paid for the tour.

And I agree with the others, much prefer the chocolate in Belgium :)

Ruby99, there are some free DIY chocolate walk routes here http://www.chocoparis.com/chocolate-walks/.

With so many shops in close proximity, and so much info available online, there is really no need to spend $$ on a tour.