Travel: The Shopping Forecast

Journey to the Source

No 10: Chocolate

Regarded as the best you can buy, Belgian chocolate has its roots in South America. Once drunk at Aztec ceremonies, the cocoa bean was brought to Europe by Cortez in 1520. The Europeans developed quite a passion for chocolate although it remained a luxury food until they worked out how to separate cocoa butter from cocoa solids and produce chocolate as we now know it.

The Belgian chocolate industry took off in the late 19th century, helped by the country's colonisation of the Congo and its cocoa plantations. Whereas British chocolate is criticised as a poor imitation (it's made with vegetable rather than cocoa solids), Belgian manufacturers kept standards high and added fresh cream fillings (pralines).

The Belgians are still fussy about their chocolate and like to hand pick their selection. Dark chocolate (with a high proportion of cocoa butter and cocoa solids) is considered the best, along with white chocolate (a mixture of milk and cocoa butter). And the Belgians should know. According to the Insight Guide to Belgium (pounds 16.99), the Belgians eat a belly-bulging 8 kilos of chocolate each a year.

Find out what all the fuss is about by visiting Brussels, known as the "chocolate city" to Japanese tour groups. Each producer has their own secret recipe and chocolates are made and eaten here on an epic scale. Beyond the small chocolatiers and the commercial chocolate shops, look out for Neuhaus and Godiva. Godiva at 21, Grand Place (00 32 2 511 2537) has a royal warrant and a swarm of lip-licking people outside its indecently tempting window. Godiva chocolates cost around 128BF (pounds 2.15) for 100g. At Godiva's London shop (247 Regent Street, W1 0171-495 2845), the same amount would cost you pounds 4.50 so buy up 28 prettily-packaged boxes in Brussels and use the money you save to indulge in a chocoholics tour of the city. Travel out on Eurostar (0990 186186) with a pounds 69 day return ticket and finish your day Aztec-style with a visit to Planete Chocolat (24, rue du Lombard), watching elaborate chocolate constructions take shape while sipping a hot chocolate.

Gadget of the Week

The Mobile Office from Antler's new Xenon range is designed to fit everything a business traveller needs into a compact and lightweight roller-case that complies with airline guidelines for carry-on luggage. For pounds 99 you get a detachable laptop carrier, pockets for a mobile phone, chargers, floppy disks, CD-ROMs, documents and presentation materials and a section for clothing and personal items. Call 0161-764 5241 for stockists.