Zotter+Chocolate

====When anyone says the word “chocolate”, most people begin to salivate-because what is there not to like about chocolate? Chocolate a candy a sweet snack that has been been around for 3500 years. But supposedly the best chocolate in Austria is Zotter chocolate. One man, in 1990, named Joseph Zotter decided that all of the existing chocolate in the world was boring. Since he was a master candy-maker, he began experimenting. Accordingly, he came up with some fantastic chocolate creations. They were so well-like by the people, that he ended up starting his own factory to make his creations. And the rest is history! Joseph Zotter actually has his own chocolate empire where he is constantly continuing to create new and exciting chocolate varieties for individual people. ==== ====The process of creating the chocolate starts with the cocoa bean. All of the steps are done on site in his factory--roasting, fine milling, conching of the beans and the packaging of the chocolates. Adding to the whole process is the fact that Zotter chocolates are organic. Joseph Zotter has taken chocolate to a never before seen level of creativity. Some of his unique flavors reflect the local markets, such as pumpkinseed marzipan. Other flavors are just way out there--would you be adventurous enough to try chocolate covered bacon bits or peanut-ketchup flavored chocolate? Then again, who isn’t? It is chocolate after all! ==== ====The Zotter factory is about an hour north of Graz and is located near Riegersburg Castle. What is especially interesting at this factory is that it offers tours. These tours allow visitors to see the entire production process. And if you are lucky, you might just get to sample some of their chocolate products at different stages of production. And has it been mentioned that they have chocolate drinks, too? As you learn, sip one of their divine chocolate creations. ==== ====One last thing that makes Zotter Chocolates stand out from the crowd is its packaging. The designs on the Zotter finished products are artworks in their own right. Some of them have been labeled as collector’s items. And just for fun, you can design your own wrapper while on the factory tour. Wonder what Zotter will come up with next? ====