The number of chocolate shops in Brussels is meant to astound. Most people will point you towards the most established Belgian chocolate shops in Brussels, like Leonidas, Mary’s, Godiva, and Planete, but historic doesn’t always mean good. Sometimes crappy products continue to thrive because every guide book is just recommending what all the others are. …

Fiji is not a commonly-referenced cacao origin, but the island chain produces hundreds of tons of cacao each year. On the global scale, this amount barely registers but for the fact that it shows rising production. Yet the vast majority of the chocolate consumed on the islands is imported, and largely bears rather distinctive purple …

Trends in Singapore tend to develop and spread rapidly, especially in the food industry. Some past examples include specialty coffee, black sugar, and salted egg everything. Each of these items has had their moment in the spotlight, and most have left a lasting legacy still open for business in one corner or another of the …

The national drink of Dominican Republic is nothing like marijuana. I promise. It sure sounds like it, especially if you’re speaking quickly, but don’t get the two confused— marijuana is a drug and mamajuana is a drink. In fact, this is a mamajuana recipe, and quite likely the most straightforward one you’ll find. So let’s …

The number of chocolate shops in Singapore has stayed more or less steady over the last few years. Yet the quality of the options has undoubtedly risen, and that’s one thing definitely worth celebrating. There are Godiva in Singapore, just all over the city. But the only reason the Godiva in Singapore have even been …

Apparently I look Dutch. This is the number one takeaway from my Amsterdam chocolate adventure, which took me to a few dozen chocolateries across the city. I found that most chocolate shops in Amsterdam are quite small, specializing in only chocolate, with no seating or other goodies to choose from. It’s grab, and then go. …

Like with most other parts of Asia, chocolate isn’t the first, second, or even fiftieth thing you’d associate with India. But chocolate is universal; it’s spread to markets worldwide, and India is no exception. In fact, with nearly 1.4 billion people, the Indian chocolate market is one of the fastest-growing in the world. Yet the …

Japan is a place where people will pay a eighty bucks for a melon, five dollars for a chocolate truffle, and fork over hundreds for less than a pound of beef. I’ve never before witnessed such absurdity in pursuit of exclusivity. But I don’t blame them for it, either; not after trying Kobe beef in …

Melbourne is known for its exceptional culinary scene, from local wines to modern Asian fusion. But chocolate? Not so much. So I decided to jump into the scene of Melbourne chocolate shops, as well as several chocolateries within walking distance of the Melbourne city line. I found that a lot of shops are closed on …

For Koreans, Busan is a popular weekend getaway, especially from Seoul. It’s got the beach & ocean vistas, abundant seafood, and the most famous living village in Korea: Gamcheon Culture Village. Planning your Busan itinerary is easier than ever, no matter where your interests lay. If you hate flying, you can take a bus or …