Tour Details
Duration
2.5 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
Various Chocolate and Pastry Shops in Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Photos & Highlights
- Discover the evolution of chocolate, from bean to delicacy, with ample tastings
- Led by a professional chef or food writer
Select a date
Tour Description
Truffles, pralines, ganache...What's the difference? Beginning in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, your pastries and chocolates tour with a food expert will answer these questions and more. You'll indulge your sweet tooth at several chocolate shops, and maybe even stop to admire the whimsically detailed chocolate sculptures at a classic chocolaterie. As you taste their wares, you'll discuss the process behind the transformation from cocoa bean to the various chocolate delicacies sold in shops today, and maybe touch on chocolate's transformation from luxury good to affordable treat.
Next, you'll go on to discuss the rich dessert history associated with Paris and, more importantly, the evolution of the celebrated Parisian treat, the macaron. Stopping at a variety of these confectionery shops, you will compare and contrast the flavors, products, and techniques used. You may visit a top boutique to sample their flavorful take on the macaron, or try a colorful array at a family-owned boulangerie. From marvelous meringue and tartes to rich pure chocolate, this walk will tantalize every one of your senses.
This edible adventure through an upscale and iconic Left Bank neighborhood will enhance your appreciation for this sweet treat, as well as open your eyes to the complex science involved in the chocolate-making process.
Experts
- You have a serious sweet tooth. Not only will you get your fill of sweets on the tour itself, but you’ll come away with a list of shops and other specialties to try during your time in France.
- You want to visit the beautiful Left Bank of Paris in a fun and different way, by discovering its sweetest shops.
- You love deep diving into particular subjects and want to learn about the history of pastries and chocolates in France.
- Macarons- what trip to Paris would be complete without tasting an elegant macaron? Your guide will introduce you to some of our favorites.
- Chocolate-some of the world’s best chocolate makers have set up shop here, you would be remiss not to pay a visit.
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Seasonal specialties-bûche de noel in December, tarte aux fraises in late spring, part of life in France is savoring what is available according to the season.
- While the number of tastings can vary depending on the guide and your tastes and interests, we can guarantee you will not come away from this tour hungry. As one client recently put it, "We thought we would never want to eat again!". You may want to plan for something savory after the tour is over, however, to mitigate the sugar rush!
- We are taking you to local establishments that are often family-run, hours and availability may vary.
- Dietary restrictions should be shared in advance in order to possibly adapt the tour. We don’t recommend this tour for gluten allergies or those with illnesses which make them sensitive to sugar.
Additional Trip-Planning Resources
- For more information on planning your travels to Paris, take a read through our Context Stories.
- If you are looking to learn more about … prior to a visit, check out our online lectures at Context Learning.
Where do we meet? Where does it end?
The walk begins near the Église St-Germain-des-Prés in the 6th arrondissement on the Left Bank, and stays in a concentrated area in the neighborhood. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point details along with a map.
What if it’s raining?
Tours operate rain or shine, but in the case of inclement weather, your guide will modify the tour so more time is spent indoors. It never hurts to have an umbrella on hand.
Is this tour good for kids?
Yes! We have some excellent family friendly guides who can appeal to the learning styles of children, and what kid wouldn’t want to spend half the day eating chocolate?
There are 7 in my group but your website won't allow me to include more than 6 participants. Can't you make an exception?
Unfortunately not. The small independent shops we visit on our tour are small and prefer we keep our group sizes to 6 maximum for the best experience.
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We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.
Is this tour wheelchair-friendly?
Some of the shops we visit are small and many will have a step up to access them. The general route may include small streets with narrow sidewalks; please contact us if you have any questions regarding accessibility.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
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411 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
I'm so sorry to say this, but our experience with Alisa was the low point of a wonderful trip. We found our docent to be perfunctory and unprofessional. Almost as soon as we began the walk, she set the wrong tone, insisting that one of our members stop videotaping her explanation about how chocolate came into existence. She repeatedly said "Are you videoing this? I am very uncomfortable with that. Very uncomfortable." Our guest felt quite embarrassed by that, and that put me (as our group leader) in a very bad position.
Several times, when the group was lagging behind, Alisa asked me in an exasperated tone "Is your group always this slow?" I explained to her at least 3 times that if she would pick up the pace, the group would respond in kind. Instead, she stopped to lecture the group that she had other places to be, and had to pick up her daughter at a certain time. We all found that extremely unprofessional--and unbeknownst to Alisa, several of them had been tour guides for years, so they were aware of how a professional guide should conduct herself.
We had at least five tour guides through out our stay in France, and I'm very sad to say that our Context experience was without exception, the least favorite of the trip. At least there was chocolate...
Cherie
Reviewed on:
Oct 16, 2013
Laurel was a wonderful guide...she was on time, is knowledgeable. personable and fun to be with. we were delighted with her...and the tastings were great.
Elizabeth
Reviewed on:
Oct 4, 2013
Truth be told, considering the price of the tour, I expected to taste more things and I definitely did not expect to be sharing one macaroon between three people or dividing a little piece of chocolate (which was already really small to begin with) by two. I'm sorry, but it makes the tour look cheap.
Louise
Reviewed on:
Sep 27, 2013
