Seattle Sights: Theo Chocolate Factory Tour

My love of chocolate is well-documented. I mean, what person owns a chocolate fountain? This kid.

I saw the Theo Chocolate Factory Tour online and made a note that I should go. They take reservations online, so I figured why the hell not. It was $10 for an hour-long tour and every attendee gets a specially made chocolate bar, so it's actually a great deal.

When I walked it, I was immediately struck with how delicious it smelled. I hoped I would smell like chocolate at the end.
Because it's a working factory, everyone gets a hair net. I make this look good, folks. The tour starts with an educational session about how chocolate is grown and made. And tastings. Lots of chocolate tastings. Chocolate tastings = happy Kelly.

Then, the tour moved to the factory tour. The tour guide showed us where the beans are delivered, cleaned, roasted, then ground down and made into chocolately bars of bliss.

We were also shown the testing kitchen, which is where they come up with new combinations like basil pine nut and monkey munch (banana chips). It's also where truffles and toffee are made, which we got to try as well.
It's actually a well-done tour. You learn a lot about chocolate, as well as what makes Theo Chocolate different. They're a bean to bar, organic and fair-trade certified operation that coordinates every step of the process.
If there wasn't enough chocolate in the process, the tour ends with getting a bar created just for tour goers (your choice of milk or dark), and ends in the gift shop where samples are plentiful.

I really enjoyed this tasty tour and recommend it for tourists. It's fun, delicious and cheap. Of all the things I'm thankful for, the fact that I am not allergic to chocolate is at the top of the list.