The Platres Chocolate Workshop – The Creamy Chocolatey Centre of the Troodos Mountains
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The Platres Chocolate Workshop is in the centre of the village Pano Platres, it is run by John Adams who came from Greenwich in south east London, who eschewed his government desk job in favour of a number of different enterprises, one of which was to train as a chocolatier in the south of France. His Cypriote wife Praxi convinced John to split his time between the UK and Cyprus. The workshop opened in 2008.
Their chocolates are enjoyed all over the world and are used by several top people, some are heads of state such as the Queen of England. The Platres Chocolate Workshop has garnered critical acclaim winning awards from Germany and Scandinavia which has touted it as one of the top eight ‘must visit’ places in the Cyprus Troodos Mountains and of course for its unique chocolates. So if you were looking at villas in Cyprus and wanted to find a place that can appease your sweet tooth then look no further.
This is the place where the most expensive chocolate egg was made. Officially listed in the Guinness Book of World Records, the egg cost a whopping €30,000, draped with a four carat diamond pendant, one carat diamond ring, rubies, emeralds, sapphires and amethysts. This is the closest thing to a Fabergé egg made out of porcelain. They admitted that a Fabergé egg was their inspiration for the egg and that they wanted to set a benchmark mark for luxury chocolate eggs. Even though it was auctioned off a picture of it is still on the shop wall making its presence permanently remembered.
The chocolates are relatively expensive – each costs two Euros but then again this is premium quality chocolate. They are boxed up in custom made cardboard boxes. Although there are times when John can be a perfectionist: he sometimes makes chocolates which he deems not acceptable in the visual sense and will sometimes sell them for cheap or better yet give them away for free. He calls them chocolate cups ‘rejects’, there is also some dipping chocolate which is accompanied by little breadsticks for people to sample when visiting, be warned though one isn’t enough..
John and his staff make the chocolates fresh every day with Venezuelan cocoa that is imported specially. The chocolates are unique because they all have a taste of Cyprus as they have flavours from the country. For example the local favourite is Aphrodite cream which is named after the Greek goddess of love, this chocolate cup features a mouth-watering honey and chocolate fusion that contains a small dose of Royal Jelly, which is said to be an aphrodisiac.
It being called The Platres Chocolate Workshop it’s not difficult to see that they do run a chocolate workshop that you can book. This experience will see you crafting your own chocolate bars and sampling raw ingredients. Following that you are given a tutorial on fillings and toppings, after which you get to make your own selection of chocolate cups that you wrap and take home with you. The main goal of the workshop is to give people enough confidence to make chocolate at home. The courses are done seven days a week for most of the year but book in advance as sessions get booked quickly especially in the summer season.
