Chocolate addicts take note

If you love chocolate more than life itself, you may already know about Jennifer Earle's Chocolate Ecstasy Tours. If you don't, it's time to take note as it's a little slice of London-based foodie knowledge that's well worth having.

Jennifer is a self-confessed choc addict, and loves the dark stuff so much that she started up her own tours of London's best chocolate boutiques. Having tagged along on two of these tours, I now buy my couverture from Maison du Chocolat (the couverture in question being Valrhona), frequent Rococo for their chocolate covered cocoa beans and generally gawp at the infinite chocolate counter at Fortnum & Mason whenever I get the chance. (Their marshmallows are well worth a trip too, with gorgeous flavours such as elderflower and strawberries & cream, sitting there looking light, and sumptuously pretty). 

Jennifer's tours have (as you might expect), a slight female bias with hen do's and gaggles of chocolate-loving women converging on the streets of London to find out more about the cocoa bean. Men might be in the minority, but they are encouraged just as much by Jennifer to delve into the truffle stash at Prestat, and to sink their teeth into Charbonnel et Walker's pink champagne truffles en route.

There are several different tours you can choose from with the Chocolate Ecstasy Tours, taking in varying routes and lengths of time. The chances are that you'll also walk away, not just rich in chocolate consumption, but London facts too. As we walked along Saville Row on the 4-hour tour, Jennifer pointed out the building where The Beatles played live on the rooftop, sending London's female contingent into raptures. Then it was time to take in some of London's best hot chocolate and some calorie-busting patisserie, which sent us into raptures of our own.

With each tour, everyone gets to sample chocolate mouthfuls at the boutiques and shops en route (yes, truffles for free!). There are also on-the-day discounts to take advantage of, arranged especially by Jennifer. If you still have room for any chocolate (and I did almost surprisingly reach my limit after 4 hours), chocolate groupies are sent home with a goodie bag boasting... you've guessed it... yet more chocolate.
 

For more information on Jennifer Earle's Chocolate Ecstasy Tours, please visit:
http://www.chocolateecstasytours.com/