Second to Switzerland, Austria consumes a tremendous amount of chocolate. While the Swiss enjoy about 8.8 kg/person of chocolate every year, Austria consumes about 8.1 pounds of chocolate every year per person.
History of Cacao in Austria
The story of chocolate in Austria began with the introduction of cacao beans from the Americas by the Spanish in the 16th century. Initially, chocolate was consumed as a beverage, often flavored with spices like cinnamon and vanilla. The wealthy and the elite in Austria quickly adopted this luxurious drink, and it became a status symbol among the nobility.
By the 18th century, chocolate houses, similar to today’s cafes, began to appear in Vienna and other major Austrian cities. These establishments became social hubs where the aristocracy and intellectuals gathered to enjoy hot chocolate, gossip, and engage in intellectual discussions.
One of the most famous chocolate houses was the Demel, founded in Vienna in 1786, which still exists today and is renowned for its exquisite pastries and chocolates.
Austrian chocolatiers were quick to innovate and develop their own unique chocolate recipes, popularizing cacao in Austria. They experimented with different cocoa blends, added ingredients like nuts, fruits, and liqueurs, and perfected the art of chocolate making. This commitment to quality and innovation earned Austrian chocolate a reputation for excellence that persists to this day.
Popular Chocolates and Manufacturers in Austria
Today, Austria is home to several renowned chocolate brands and chocolatiers who continue to uphold the country’s tradition of chocolate excellence. Companies like Manner and Zotter are celebrated both domestically and internationally for their high-quality chocolates and innovative flavors.
Mozartkugel
One of Austria’s most iconic chocolate creations is the Mozartkugel, or Mozart ball. This delicious confection consists of a marzipan center surrounded by layers of nougat and dark chocolate, all coated with a thin layer of milk chocolate. Named after the famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, these chocolates are a tribute to Austria’s rich cultural heritage and culinary creativity.
Zotter Schokolade
Zotter Schokolade is an Austrian chocolate manufacturer specializing in organic and fairly traded bean-to-bar chocolate. The company was founded in 1999 by Josef Zotter and is based in Riegersburg, Styria. From 2004 to 2006, Zotter switched its entire product range to exclusively fairly traded and organic chocolate.
Zotter has since opted for making separate contracts with small South American, African, and Asian farmers to directly source fairly traded cacao. In 2007, the chocolate factory in Riegersburg was expanded to allow for complete bean-to-bar manufacturing. The expanded factory included a new experiential retail section, which among other elements consists of a purpose-built cinema, an open view of the manufacturing process using elevated walkways across the factory floor, and several “tasting stations”.
In 2011, Zotter opened an Edible Zoo next to the chocolate factory, which serves products based on crops grown and livestock raised on the zoo premises. The Zotter Chocolate Factory and the Experience Worlds in Riegersburg and Shanghai have repeatedly been featured in international media as an example of interactive and sustainability-focused experiential retail.
Zotter processes approximately 250 tons of cocoa beans annually, producing approximately 500 different types of chocolate, encouraging the consumption of cacao in Austria. Zotter is a bean-to-bar manufacturer, producing chocolate by processing cocoa beans in-house, rather than melting pre-made chocolate into their own product. The company is a member of the World Fair Trade Organization and carries a EU certification for organic food.
