Nestled in the urban sprawl of the North-East corner of Moscow is one of the city’s most precious hidden gems - if you’re a chocolate lover, that is. The Кондитерский концерн Бабаевский (or Confectionery Concern Babayevsky as it has been known since 1922) was established in 1804 and as of 1899 was designated as “Purveyor of Fine Chocolate and Confectionery to His Imperial Majesty’s Court”. Quite a pedigree for Abrikosov and Sons’ 200 year-old family business, wouldn’t you agree?
Behind the bright red walls of a lovely feat of late 18thC architecture hides a small museum detailing the world history of chocolate as well as the history of chocolate and confectionary production and consumption in Russia. A short film followed by a tour through various displays that showcase the evolution of the tools of the trade educate visitors about the detailed process of chocolate making from bean to bite-sized candy. Learning about the process makes every subsequent chocolate-tasting experience that much sweeter. The labour that goes into each product is astounding. It is a wonder that the cost of chocolates is not much more dear than it actually is.
Chocolate sculptures
Although very interesting and informative, the crowning jewel of the visit is the tour through the production floor of the factory. Hershey’s has nothing on this factory! Of course, the volume of tourists that cycle through the Hershey factory could never be accommodated here. We were required to wear lab coats, shoe protection and hair nets before we were even permitted to approach the entryway to the production room floor.
Very serious warnings about no photography adorned the walls along the way. From this point on, I complied. The lure of chocolate at the end of the tunnel was too much for me to break the rules. Clearly, in this regard, I am NOT my father’s daughter. Clearly, in this regard, I AM driven by my love of chocolate. I am a simple creature, really.
Weaving our way through a series of armoured doors, walkways and stairwells, we finally and surprisingly found ourselves directly on the production floor. The only things separating us from the sweet treats sitting openly and seductively in impossibly enormous piles were the staff and our frontal cortexes. (The staff being the more influential of the two.) We were led through narrow pathways and past all manner of machinery and equipment monitored by a small army of staff strategically stationed the length of an impressively long, automated production line.
Like magic, there were chocolate bars of various flavours being produced before our very eyes. The moulds were prepared, put into place, filled and travelled great lengths along conveyer belts while cooling the poured chocolate enough to hold their shape, be flipped out, wrapped in foil and and then packaged in paper and stacked in boxes for shipping. All the while, staff were attending to the machinery and products, ensuring quality control every step of the way.
Our tour guide kept us moving along at a brisk pace, stopping every so often to highlight a certain process or product. At one point in our journey, I caught the eye of a woman who was working the end of the line of large chocolate bar production. We exchanged a smile and she brought me three large bars to share with the people in my group. How kind of her. I’ve got to say, there is nothing that compares to the taste of fresh chocolate!
Not only were they making chocolate bars the day of our tour, but there was a production run of individual chocolates. As I watched the women manually loading chocolate box trays, I couldn’t help but think about Lucy and Ethel. I’m very pleased to report that the staff at the Кондитерский концерн Бабаевский factory didn’t have the same trouble as our two bumbling heroines, bless their sweet souls.
The whole excursion brought a smile to my face, from start to finish - especially since we were each given a sleeve of chocolates as a parting gift at the end of the tour! Of course, the obligatory trip to the retail shop didn’t hurt, either. I only invested 406 руб, don’t panic. It was important, after all, to give a little back, don’t you think?
Behind the bright red walls of a lovely feat of late 18thC architecture hides a small museum detailing the world history of chocolate as well as the history of chocolate and confectionary production and consumption in Russia. A short film followed by a tour through various displays that showcase the evolution of the tools of the trade educate visitors about the detailed process of chocolate making from bean to bite-sized candy. Learning about the process makes every subsequent chocolate-tasting experience that much sweeter. The labour that goes into each product is astounding. It is a wonder that the cost of chocolates is not much more dear than it actually is.
Chocolate sculptures
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| clandestine photos of award-winning chocolate bear |
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| one of the exhibits in the education centre |
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| работники |
Weaving our way through a series of armoured doors, walkways and stairwells, we finally and surprisingly found ourselves directly on the production floor. The only things separating us from the sweet treats sitting openly and seductively in impossibly enormous piles were the staff and our frontal cortexes. (The staff being the more influential of the two.) We were led through narrow pathways and past all manner of machinery and equipment monitored by a small army of staff strategically stationed the length of an impressively long, automated production line.
Like magic, there were chocolate bars of various flavours being produced before our very eyes. The moulds were prepared, put into place, filled and travelled great lengths along conveyer belts while cooling the poured chocolate enough to hold their shape, be flipped out, wrapped in foil and and then packaged in paper and stacked in boxes for shipping. All the while, staff were attending to the machinery and products, ensuring quality control every step of the way.
Our tour guide kept us moving along at a brisk pace, stopping every so often to highlight a certain process or product. At one point in our journey, I caught the eye of a woman who was working the end of the line of large chocolate bar production. We exchanged a smile and she brought me three large bars to share with the people in my group. How kind of her. I’ve got to say, there is nothing that compares to the taste of fresh chocolate!
Not only were they making chocolate bars the day of our tour, but there was a production run of individual chocolates. As I watched the women manually loading chocolate box trays, I couldn’t help but think about Lucy and Ethel. I’m very pleased to report that the staff at the Кондитерский концерн Бабаевский factory didn’t have the same trouble as our two bumbling heroines, bless their sweet souls.
The whole excursion brought a smile to my face, from start to finish - especially since we were each given a sleeve of chocolates as a parting gift at the end of the tour! Of course, the obligatory trip to the retail shop didn’t hurt, either. I only invested 406 руб, don’t panic. It was important, after all, to give a little back, don’t you think?
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| My kind of chocolate coins! |
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