I love chocolate and I would like to bring back chocolate for my relatives. I don't want to spend much on that, I'm just looking for the Swiss Leonidas (if you go to Brussels, they are cheap and very good). Any advice?
I live in Basel, but I still have to visit Zurich, Bern, Geneve, Lausanne and Lucern. And I can move 60km from Basel (the shop needn't be in the city centre).
I'm sure somebody else has asked about that, but I haven't found the answer.
pd: for my own pleasure, which chocolate factory would you visit? At home we eat Lindt, is it worth to visit the Kilchberg shop? I think the factory is not open to the public.
Why visiting the Lindt factory? Its' not cheaper than DENNER, at least to my some outdated knowledge All genuine Swiss chocolate brands such as Tobler, Lindt, Nestlé, Caillers can be bought at best prices at Denner. I'm genuine Swiss, too, sorry to say that I only recommend these brands, although that I know of people that buy and eat Migros chocolate. ...
How about Frey dark Chocolate that goes on sale as a pack of 5 every so often at Migros. It's very good dark chocolate. Otherwise Aldi's Moser-Roth which is as good as any dark that I've had.
If you can get to a Carrefour in France, there are 3 or 4 very close to Geneva, try their Carrefour dark chocolate with roasted almonds. It's totally awesome. In my opinion, it's the best chocolate you can get for the price - about 1.49 euro for 200g.
You will not find them as Leonidas is Belgian (and maybe that is the reason you find them in the touristic shops of Brussels???).
If you want it cheap, the only chance are the normal supermarkets. However, do not expect it to be too cheap, as Swiss chocolate is even cheaper in some EU countries than it is here.
pd: for my own pleasure, which chocolate factory would you visit? At home we eat Lindt, is it worth to visit the Kilchberg shop? I think the factory is not open to the public.[/quote]
I live by the Lindt factory and it smells delicious.. most of the time. But one time I did wake up in the middle night thinking I was in the movie Charlie and the Choclate Factory !
The facotry is not open to the public but the store does have some good deals, it is open 10-17 mon-fri. If you go, the deals are all at the back of the store, you can often buy bars at 1chf, and there are bags of praliens 4 for 12 chf (not sure how many per bag but its a good deal)... there is lots and lots of choice.
For presents, people should not go for quantity. Rather restrict size and buy good chocolates of whatever make. Chocolat Frey, the chocolate company bought by Migros in either the late 1950ies or early 60ies, is not bad but rather mediocre. And to save money, go to Denner or Spar.
Visit the Cailler chocolate factory - you can combine this with a nice weekend in Gruere... and Cailler is the only Swiss chocolate that is still produced with fresh milk instead of powdered milk...
not in the neighbourhood, but I know someone who gets cheap Lindt chocolate in the factory in Aachen, Germany. It really is a lot cheaper. If someone is interested I can look for the businesscard of the factory and give the details. And secondly, Leonidas is really not the best chocolate in Belgium. You should try the artisanal chocolate makers instead and buy their pralines.
Thank you all, My sole reason for dark chocolate is the cocoa content. I do not mind taste. My taste buds have changed since I have lived in Switzerland for a short while.
You can buy "seconds" chocolate (broken slabs, wrong filling, packing torn etc) at throw-away prices.
Also chocolate *nearing* expiry (ie in 2 months or so) sells for very cheap (10-12 CHF per Kg). The quality is so good that it doesn't last longer than a day or two at most