Chocolate lovers, you will be happy to know that “chocolatey” weekends will be held at the end of March. Yes, Choco Italia, the traveling event dedicated to artisanal chocolate and Italian sweets, is back, taking place in several Italian cities. At the end of March, the event will arrive in Prati (March 21-23) and at Eur (steps of St. Peter and Paul) from March 28-30, 2025.
Admission is free and free, from 10 a.m. to midnight, allowing everyone to participate and enjoy the culinary offerings. The main objective is to promote the knowledge of artisanal chocolate and its supply chains, giving space especially to small producers.
There will be interactive workshops such as the “European Cultural Traveling Chocolate Factory,” where it will be possible to discover the history and processing of cocoa. In addition, there will be an opportunity to become a “chocolatier for a day” and create a personalized bar.
In addition to chocolate, there will be typical products from different Italian regions, including Lazio, Campania, Puglia, Calabria, Umbria and Sicily. It will also be possible to taste specialties such as kürtőskalács, a Hungarian dessert.
The history of chocolate in Italy
The history of chocolate in Italy begins in the 16th century, when the Duke of Savoy, Emanuele Filiberto, introduced cocoa to Italy in 1559. However, it was not until 1678 that Turin was granted the first license to produce chocolate.
Turin became the center of chocolate production in Italy, thanks in part to the innovation of combining cocoa and hazelnuts during the Napoleonic wars, when cocoa was hard to come by. This combination led to the creation of the famous Gianduiotto, a Turin classic.
Other Italian regions, such as Sicily, also have a tradition of chocolate production, specializing in grainy chocolate flavored with chili, cinnamon, or vanilla.
Today, Piedmont remains a leading region in artisanal chocolate production, with historic companies such as Venchi and Guido Gobino.
Chocolate is also good for you
Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, is known for its health benefits. Key benefits include: maintaining heart health thanks to flavanols, protecting the body from oxidative damage, and improving brain function.
Remember, however, that good dark chocolate should contain at least 70 percent cocoa, and among the ingredients you should find only cocoa paste, cocoa butter, and sugar in small amounts.