Asia

Ever since the controversial new ruby chocolate was revealed at a Shanghai trade show in September 2017, the ever-wandering eye of the public has been curious about pink chocolate. China’s not exactly a hub for craft chocolate making, after all. Yet one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the world chose to debut their newest …

Seoul has a little something for everyone, whether you’re a history buff, a foodie, or a lifelong lover of K-pop. The city is one of the biggest in the world, so when it comes to where to stay in Seoul, it’s important to keep in mind what you want to do on your trip. After …

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 …

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 …

Even if you only have a few days to explore Jeju Island, maybe even just a weekend from Seoul or Busan, there’s no reason you can’t still make the most of it. When I was teaching English in South Korea, Jeju was and remains by far my favorite long weekend getaway. It’s the perfect addition …

Malaysian Borneo is an absolutely stunning place. I can’t speak to any of the rest of the island, as I’ve never been, but I was floored by the island’s natural beauty— and the historical abundance of cacao. Malaysia’s been growing cocoa for over two centuries, with the first trees blooming on peninsular Malaysia. These days, …

“Just because nobody’s told you you could, doesn’t mean you can’t.” -Samuel Maruta, Co-Founder of Marou Chocolate Samuel Maruta is the co-founder of Marou Chocolate, a craft chocolate company based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Since its founding in 2011, Marou has worked directly with Vietnamese cocoa farmers to source the seven cacao origins …

The city of George Town on Penang Island is known for being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a foodie’s paradise. While there are plenty of local Indian, Malay, and Chinese food options, what we really came to check out was the chocolate. Penang has a relatively small number of chocolate cafes, but considering how …

In Kuala Lumpur, chocolate shops are numerous and varied in nature. The only thing they really have in common is that all of them carry chocolate made in Malaysia, mostly using Malaysian cocoa. Similar to Tokyo, most Kuala Lumpur chocolate cafes & shops are found in malls scattered across the city. Unfortunately, there’s no single …

Myanmar is one of the two or three countries in Asia I cannot wait to come back to. ​The calmness blanketing the country is amazing, but add in the beautiful temples, grand open spaces, and delicious food, and I left hooked. I was actually quite nervous before visiting, because it was such an expensive side …