Ost, verktyg och skor? Nej, choklad på chokladfestivalen i Opatija

Chocolate festival in Croatia - with chocolate massage in Opatija

We have now experienced a real chocolate festival in Croatia, in the beautiful coastal town of Opatija. Everything is chocolate-themed, from workshops and art events to chocolate-themed concerts (!) and activities for children. We also got to experience a chocolate massage in Opatija. Join us for a very chocolatey post from Opatija!

Table of contents

Annual chocolate festival in Opatija

The Chocolate Festival in Opatija is being organised this year for the eleventh consecutive year, and is a three-day excess of chocolate. The fact that chocolate is so heavily celebrated here is due to the city's long history as a tourist centre for the exclusive people.

As early as the 19th century, wealthy Europeans travelled here to stroll along the sea, rest in the sanatoriums... and of course to indulge in exclusive products such as chocolate.

Today, there are many small and slightly larger chocolate producers in the area, and all are happy to showcase their specialities during these three days. You can check out the shop and café of the largest chocolate producer, or the large hall of the Kvarner Hotel, where all the small producers showcase their specialities.

Chokladproduktion — Chocolate production at the largest chocolate producer in Opatija

Chokladglas — In the same place, we got to try a small hutt - when you've finished it, just eat the glass!

READ MORE: Opatija in Croatia - 15 things to see and do
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Chocolate in many different forms

At the Opatija Chocolate Festival, chocolate comes in all shapes and sizes: small pralines, large chocolate cakes, liquid chocolate, chocolate mousse and chocolate shaped like figures. There is chocolate with nuts, chocolate with fruit, white chocolate, dark chocolate, chocolate with alcohol and chocolates with all kinds of fillings.

We also found a sturdy chocolate bar, made by the Slovenian company that actually also made the the world's largest chocolate cake. However, the one we saw here in Opatija was "only" a third of the size of the world record cake.

Chocolate in long rows in Opatija, Croatia

Choklad i olika former — Which shape of chocolate bar do you prefer?

Choklad husbil — These must be motorhomes, right?

Chokladfigurer — I am not quite sure what kind of animal this is?

Choklad Opatija — The chocolate on the far left is designed like the poles on the promenade in Opatija.

Världens största chokladkaka på chokladfestival i Opatija — "I promise, I will only eat ONE chocolate bar..."

Fotboll i choklad — A chocolate football perhaps? One of the many chocolate things we saw yesterday...

READ MORE: Istria in Croatia - 9 wonderful places to visit
READ MORE: Holidays in Dalmatia - 10 favourites on the Croatian coast

Chocolate massage in Opatija

This city is absolutely bursting with chocolate right now, and we've had the chance to try a chocolate massage! What about our chocolate massage? Yes, it was an experience! A relaxing full body massage with oil with chocolate in it. It was the wellness department at our hotel, Grand hotel 4 Opatijska, who organised it. Really good! And in addition, they have a super nice pool that I, incredibly, managed to swim in.

chokladmassage — Chocolate massage: Peter said we smelled like Anton Berg and that he was worried about being eaten ...

Chocolate festival in Croatia

Considering that it's all about chocolate, and considering that Opatija has only 14,000 inhabitants, the Chocolate Festival has a rich programme. Apart from all the chocolate on display, there are also exhibitions, workshops, art, children's activities and concerts - all in the name of chocolate. And of course you can try a chocolate massage in Opatija.

We visited "Opatija Paradox - Chocolate & Wine", where different wine producers showed their wines. You simply had to pay for a glass, and then it was free to walk around and try - of course together with different chocolate pralines.

We also went to the "Pure Chocolate" concert. We really had no expectations, but cellist Mela Marie Spaemann was the completely fantastic. So what did the concert have to do with chocolate? Well, at the entrance you were given a small box of eight chocolate pralines - each one specifically combined to suit one of the eight songs.

READ MORE: Facts about Croatia - 30 things you (might) not have known

Helena

04 December 2016 6:00

Croatia

festival, fairs, sweets

Helena

Administrator

31 Comments

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Ama de casa says:

You are mean. EVIL!!! Damn it. Just seeing all that good stuff in pictures? Send some here please! 😉 You can buy me a new keyboard too. It does not tolerate drool, it has turned out... 😀.

Keep up the good work!

04 December 2016 - 6:12

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Lena - good for the soul says:

Oh, my God, so much chocolate! There seems to be no limit to your imagination.

Have a nice second advent!

Hug Lena

04 December 2016 - 6:52

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Goatfish says:

Good thing I just had breakfast! No, I didn't want chocolate this early. But I admire the pictures! 😀
Now I'm leaving soon, but not on a chocolate train, hihi....
Take care and hugs!

04 December 2016 - 7:53

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Lennart says:

Of course, chocolate is delicious.

04 December 2016 - 8:10

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Ama de casa, haha, bib? You should be able to arrange a trickle of chocolate from here to Spain ... Oh my goodness, there is chocolate here! 😉

Lena, there is definitely nothing wrong with imagination!

Geddfish, good thing you checked in the morning 😉 I don't usually crave sweets in the morning either ...

Lennart, we have tasted very good chocolate here 🙂 .

04 December 2016 - 8:23

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Lanclin-Linnea says:

Looks incredibly yummy but I think I would almost be full just walking around there 🙂 .

04 December 2016 - 8:25

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anita wåg agrimanaki says:

oh...so wonderful, simply wonderful. I guess you bought a motorhome 🙂 .

04 December 2016 - 8:29

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Alexandra says:

Come on!!! I die how good it looks. Chocolate is the only candy I eat and now I got sickly hungry.
Hello Kitty, Rudolf with the red muzzle and frogs I think it is haha 😀.

04 December 2016 - 8:49

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LinizTravel says:

Wow what a dream for a chocolate lover 😉 hugs

04 December 2016 - 8:54

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JoY says:

Gosh what a lot and no shortage of imagination Likes pure flavours of chocolate Not a lover of different kinds of fillings in chocolate, rather look at the small fine works of art.
Hugs

04 December 2016 - 9:11

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nils-åke says:

So much chocolate! Good thing they made motorhomes too and not just tools because I have stopped working! This was really interesting, where there are around to visit.

04 December 2016 - 9:18

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Marina says:

Wow!!! Can't think of much more to say! It must really have been an experience to see this, and what creations. Now I am not a huge lover of chocolate, I like to eat but then it should be a small piece and then I am quite satisfied, but I could very well have imagined just walking around and being fascinated by all this.

04 December 2016 - 9:29

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Lanclin, haha, so it can be. The first lap we went there I was quite hungry, so then it was perfect to try both one and the other 😉.

Anita, I was a bit too worried that the motorhomes would break in the packing... but we have bought other chocolates with us!

Alexandra, but oh perfect, someone who knows about Hello Kitty and stuff haha 😉 .

Liniztravel, indeed, a mecca! 🙂

JoY, it's fun to see all the different creations, and there's probably something for every taste, with or without filling 😉.

Nils-Åke, haha yes, right? Peter doesn't want to see unnecessary tools either, but some of them are incredibly realistic!

Marina, I can't indulge in chocolate either, but a really good piece of chocolate with your coffee after dinner never goes amiss 😉.

04 December 2016 - 9:36

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Emelie says:

Mmm... there you could have been... 🙂 🙂

04 December 2016 - 10:06

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Snows says:

That festival has my name on it 😀.

04 December 2016 - 10:15

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Ditte says:

Absolutely fantastic! And what an idea for a chocolate festival! I really enjoyed it, but at the risk of no more chocolate a year later.
Fantastic pictures that are really enticing!
I understand that you are enjoying yourself.
Everything also seems very well thought out in every way.
Extra fun with a "chocolate concert".
Stay safe and enjoy everything.

04 December 2016 - 11:23

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Husis blog says:

My chocolate-loving owners would really enjoy it. Wonderful pictures and the owner says that the mouth is watering after looking at the pictures. Of course, my favourite chocolate is the one depicting the camper van!
The owners wish you a happy second advent!

04 December 2016 - 11:43

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Mr Steve says:

Imagine sinking your teeth into a spanner and then washing it down with a chocolate shake.

04 December 2016 - 14:20

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Cattis says:

Haha absolutely crazy...I would have easily eaten chocolate if I went there...I think I have to go next year!:D I'm completely happy to see all the chocolate in the pictures!!!

04 December 2016 - 14:47

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Matts Torebring says:

Not hard to open your wallet there. But was the chocolate as good as it looked?

04 December 2016 - 16:43

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BP says:

I'm one of the few creatures on earth who doesn't like chocolate, BUT I have to say I'm totally taken by the tools, cheese, mobiles and lipsticks. Absolutely incredible creations. I think even I would have taken a bite of the cheese here:-)

Assume that you have taken the opportunity to buy all the Christmas presents at the festival. I mean there was something for all tastes and interests!

04 December 2016 - 18:24

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Emelie, not stupid at all 😉 .

Znogge, haha 😉

Ditte, yes it is a fun idea and a well thought out programme!

Husisblogg, if you like chocolate it's a little heaven here 😉 Wishing you a nice advent too!

Steve, haha, well why not? 😉

Kattis, if you like chocolate, it's easy to overeat here 😉.

Matts, all the chocolate we ate was very good! We tried different pralines and pieces here and there and it was good quality! However, I guess the figures are a little "simpler" chocolate.

BP, yes I know you don't like chocolate. Actually thought about it when I wrote the post 😉 And it was easy to accidentally shop for something to take home 😉 .

04 December 2016 - 19:47

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Ruth in Virginia says:

"theobroma cacao" (food of the gods),
botanical name of the cocoa tree. Likes hot and humid climates.
Wondering where Opatija's chocolate makers buy their chocolate from.
Do they buy beans or the final product?
My son's wife in Vietnam started with a cocoa and coffee plantation.
a few years ago. Takes between 3-5 years to harvest. Don't know how
it has worked for her. Have not received any chocolate from Vietnam. 🙂
I'm not too fond of chocolate except really dark, which comes from
Fun and interesting to see what people can invent. 🙂

04 December 2016 - 21:16

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Ruth in Virginia, what a great question! We know they make the chocolate shake, so I guess it must be the beans they import?

04 December 2016 - 22:40

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åsa in åsele says:

Oh yum, see there I knew that a chocolate SPA would mean a gluttony of chocolate even in another form than bath too 🙂 .
Oh yes, I would love to eat chocolate for breakfast 😀 at least right now 😉.

05 December 2016 - 7:26

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Rantamor on the retina says:

But my goodness what chocolate you show, you can't even take in everything, but I would have bought that campervan right away, it must have been good.
And that hut, it was really interesting, wondering what the hut contained, and smart that you got the glass into your stomach too.
That thing about buying a wine glass, and then walking around filling it, while tasting chocolates....
now I'm getting drool on the keyboards like the AMA.

I have to stick to the rice pudding simmering on the stove !!!!

Tjingelingen from Rantamor.

05 December 2016 - 11:21

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Åsa in Åsele, haha, I like to wait until after breakfast ... but then! 😉

Rantamor, the hut was good! 🙂 And that with the wine glass was a very nice idea ðŸ™'

05 December 2016 - 11:49

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Ann-Louise says:

Wow, it looks so good with all the chocolate! I saw that you had tried to comment on my blog, but the only comment that appeared was the one that said "Did my comment appear". I have not seen any other comment unfortunately.

05 December 2016 - 21:38

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Marianne - Glimpses of the world says:

What a fantastic festival! It seems like you can make most things in chocolate - even cups you can eat when you've finished what you're served! What a great idea 😀.

05 December 2016 - 23:25

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Ann-Louise, have you checked the rubbish bin or trash can? That's where they usually end up... If you authorise once, it usually works later! The one that came up was without my blog address, and I'd rather not comment ...

Marianne, there was no shortage of imagination and we liked the cups 🙂.

06 December 2016 - 8:31

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Ann-Louise says:

Hello again, I have found your comment. Just as you thought, it was hiding in the rubbish bin. Now it is approved and published 🙂 .

06 December 2016 - 9:13

Reply

Chocolate festival in Croatia - with chocolate massage in Opatija

Annual chocolate festival in Opatija

Chocolate in many different forms

Chocolate massage in Opatija

Chocolate festival in Croatia

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31 Comments

Ama de casa says:

Lena - good for the soul says:

Goatfish says:

Lennart says:

admin says:

Lanclin-Linnea says:

anita wåg agrimanaki says:

Alexandra says:

LinizTravel says:

JoY says:

nils-åke says:

Marina says:

admin says:

Emelie says:

Snows says:

Ditte says:

Husis blog says:

Mr Steve says:

Cattis says:

Matts Torebring says:

BP says:

admin says:

Ruth in Virginia says:

admin says:

åsa in åsele says:

Rantamor on the retina says:

admin says:

Ann-Louise says:

Marianne - Glimpses of the world says:

admin says:

Ann-Louise says:

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