Chocolate lovers are going to love a visit to the Chocolate Kingdom Factory Adventure Tour in Orlando, Florida. It’s a sweet tour of everything chocolate, with a few samples along the way.

Here’s what you can expect on your tour of the Chocolate Kingdom.

“Welcome my friends. Welcome to my chocolate factory.”

While the outside of the building may not look like much, there is a family-friendly, interactive tour just inside its doors.

The main lobby features a full assortment of chocolate treats, along with a gift shop with stuffed animals, souvenirs and all things chocolate. A small greenhouse is home to a few cocoa trees so visitors can see what the actual tree looks like.

The tour begins with a short display of trivia questions all about chocolate. Can you answer the following questions (answers are at the bottom of this post)?

1. On which holiday do people buy the most chocolate?
2. Which has more sugar: a dark chocolate bar OR a 6 ounce glass of orange juice?

Did you know…

• The chocolate factory in Hershey, Pennsylvania, produces 33 million of the iconic chocolate kisses every day?
• In Japan, there is a Valentine’s Day tradition called “Giri Choco” (or “obligation chocolate”) which requires that women give chocolate to all the men in their lives: relatives, friends, coworkers, etc.

Meet The Prince and His Dragon

The interactive tour places everyone on a quest: Help the prince create the perfect gift for the princess of Chocolate Kingdom.

During the tour, you learn about the history of chocolate. For example, did you know that among the Aztecs, money really did grow on trees? I don’t want to spoil the information they share about the history of chocolate, so I’ll stop there. But the information is shared in a very digestible way for any audience.

Before seeing how the cocoa seed becomes the chocolate we know and love, you’ve got to cool down the dragon so his fire-breathing flames don’t melt the chocolate castle. How? By shooting marshmallows into his mouth with a catapult.

A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.

The final part of the tour is where you get to see the machines that separate the cocoa seeds from the shell, smash the seed into a pulp, and eventually become a mixture used to make all things chocolate.

You get get a little sample of milk, white and dark chocolate to try as the tour wraps up. Then comes your chance to get creative.

But I recommend bringing some cash with you to tip your tour guide – their enthusiasm can make or break the tour.

Introducing the Carltonaut Bar

For an additional fee of $6, you can design your own chocolate bar. There is a list of ingredients, ranging from cayenne pepper and bacon, to more traditional treats like M&Ms or peanuts.

After picking the ingredients, you watch the chocolate makers place your toppings on a chocolate bar mold and then pour in your selection of chocolate (milk, white or dark) and stir it all together.

The Carltonaut Bar is creamy milk chocolate, with M&Ms, peanuts and Rice Krispies.

While the chocolate cools down, you head out to the lobby to await your confectionery delight. When it’s ready, the conveyor hooks overhead transport the chocolate to the front of the store and your chocolate bar is delivered.

There are lots of other things to do in Orlando besides expensive theme parks. Here are seven things you should check out in Orlando.

The Details

Chocolate Kingdom Factory Adventure Tour

Two locations:

• 2858 Florida Plaza Blvd., Kissimmee, FL 34746
• 9901 Hawaiian Ct., Orlando, FL 32819

Cost: $16.95 for adults; $12.95 for kids (ages 4-12)
Add $6 per person if you want to make your own chocolate bar

Hours: Monday through Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tours start every hour, beginning at 11 a.m., with the last tour starting at 5 p.m.

Website: http://www.chocolatekingdom.com/

Phone: 407-705-3475

Trivia Answers: 1) Halloween. 2) The orange juice

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