Chocolate drink, Cacaolat, Barcelona, Spain. Anything better than chocolate? Melted chocolate! Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Anything better than chocolate? Melted chocolate!

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When you think of Barcelona, after Gaudi, Picasso, the Ramblas, and cava, you probably think of chocolate – or xocolata as it is called in Catalan. It is so beloved Barcelona’s locals, they even have a museum dedicated to it, the Museo de La Xocolata.

Most people have a vague idea that it was the Spanish returning from their ‘expeditions’ to the New World who brought cocoa to Europe. In fact, it was Hernando Cortez who brought the brown gold back with him from Mexico in 1519 and started the first plantation, presenting the first chocolate to the King of Spain in 1528 apparently.

It was also in Barcelona where the first chocolate was made by machine, but, somewhat ironically, Barcelona now produces some of the finest handmade artisanal chocolate in the world, renowned for daring use of flavours, from wasabi to red peppercorn. Xocoa is my favourite producer of wild chocolate bars; see my Barcelona Take-Homes post for details.

Traditionally, the locals have also drunk the stuff, often for breakfast, and generally with churros. Although we’ve noticed far fewer locals dipping their churros into the thick hot dark drinking chocolate this trip than we have in the past. These days, most seem to prefer to sip a café con leche or cortado, even in the chilly winter – habits are changing I guess.

For most travellers to Barcelona, having a chocolate con churros is one of those must-do experiences – something to tick off the list – and while we’ve tried it before, we thought we’d better partake again for Grantourismo. Any excuse!

Every café has a ‘chocolate con churros’ sign on their window, but you shouldn’t try it at any café. At some you’ll get little more than a Swiss-style hot chocolate and that’s not what it is. Many people recommend Gelateria Xocolateria (also an ice-creamery), Granja Dulcinea (a café-bar in the Barri Gotic dating to 1930, once frequented by Dali), Fargas (a chocolate shop-cum-café which opened in 1937) and Cacao Sampaka (also a creative chocolate maker).

We decided to try Granja Viader in the Raval, which opened in 1870 and claims to be Barcelona’s oldest café, because it is here where the family claim Joan Viader invented the famous chocolate drink Cacaolat, in 1931, and the first mass-produced bottled milk beverage.

Tucked down a narrow alley, it is atmospheric and has loads of charm, however, the framed clippings on the walls from newspapers and magazines attesting to its history and authenticity, and the tables crammed with tourists thumbing through guidebooks and fingering maps almost put us off.

Against our better judgement we went in, and while the hot chocolate was delicious – thick, sweet and very dark – and every tourist was having one, the few tables of locals there were drinking Vienna coffee, café con leche, and café cortado…

Granja Viader
Xucla 4, Raval

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AUTHOR BIO

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Terence Carter is an editorial food and travel photographer and infrequent travel writer with a love of photographing people, places and plates of food. After living in the Middle East for a dozen years, he settled in South-East Asia a dozen years ago with his wife, travel and food writer and sometime magazine editor Lara Dunston.

8 thoughts on “Anything better than chocolate? Melted chocolate!”

  1. We took our daughter to granjarias around Barcelona, including Viader – she basically OD’d on milk and chocolate after a week in Marrakech without any milk or calcium (she doesn’t like yoghurt).

  2. Ah, this brings back wonderful memories. Thank you.

    Speaking of chocolate, my wife and I (though we were not married then) walked past a shop on a narrow side street of the Gothic Quarter, and its window display of beautifully lit and arranged chocolates–or, really, things like banana slices, strawberries, candies, and cookies, all dipped in chocolate–pulled us in like a tractor beam. The treats were delicious, and we watched the same thing happen to at least a dozen other people walking past while we were in there. They’d stroll by, see the display, and come in.

    Does this ring a bell for you?

  3. I noticed the same thing in 2004 in Madrid. When I went out for breakfast, the locals were ordering cafe con leche and I didn’t actually see a local eating churros con chocolate. I’d still try it again though!

  4. Hi. I’ve come by way of Prêt à Voyager and I’m so glad I did. I usually spend my days reading through design-related blogs, but I enjoy travel soooo much that you’re blog, I’m sure, will be a great ‘escape’ from the usual.

    What a life to lead, traveling for a living… envy to the max! :) Good luck on your new endeavor and I look forward to visiting frequently to read about your travels and local finds.

    Oh, and that deliciously rich and thick ‘chocolate con churros’ is to die for. I remember it well from a past trip to Barcelona

    ~ Lizelly

  5. Hola Jen & Jessie – thanks for the comments! Really appreciate you both dropping by!

    Hi Eric – I’ve seen a couple of shops that fit your description & we may just have it in our post coming up on Barcelona’s old shopfronts. Take a look a bit later.

    Heather – yeah, in Jerez the locals were definitely eating churros – it seemed to be a real local ritual, however, not with chocolate! Funny isn’t it?

    Hi Lizelly – welcome! Pret A Voyager is one of my favorite blogs so I’m glad you found us through Anne’s blog. Hope to see you again!

  6. Funny how the stereotype isn’t always what you see isn’t it? I definitely noticed a lot more caffeine addicts than chocolate addicts when I was in Barcelona!

  7. Yeah, agree. I think it’s to do with the time of the day too – locals only tend to partake in the chocolate in the morning, and sip coffee the rest of the day. Thanks for dropping by!

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