The Chocolate Museum brings together the roots of chocolate production and globalisation with its current form in a fascinating mix that can be appreciated with virtually all the senses, especially the taste buds!

The modern refurbishment of the fourteenth century convent of Sant Agustí, with it's mixture of classic stone pillars and high ceilings and glass walls, metal fittings and modern audiovisual displays is an appropriate location for a museum whose subject matter has an equally long history, but still remains current today.

The Chocolate Museum is relatively small, with a lot of the information available via touch-sensitive screens in English, Spanish and Catalan. Some of the subjects covered include: the origins and history of chocolate; cakes of the year; and the serving and presenting of chocolate. Information is also displayed in wall displays.

The information is interesting, although the screens could prove limiting for a large group of people. Looking in the 'cakes of the year' screen, I found that probably the most appropriate cake for this time of year is the Coca de Chicharrónes, (crackling cake), which is served on the last Thursday before lent and is pastry filled with lightly crushed pork crackling. I think I'll stick to chocolate cake!

Besides the textual displays, there are several models made out of chocolate, ranging from the cartoon characters Asterix and Obelix, to replicas of the Sagrada Familia. These models are testament to the fact that the museum has a working chocolate kitchen, where it is possible to arrange chocolate tastings. (For groups of 15 or more, at a cost of 1,100 pesetas per person, booking required)

For anyone not able to arrange for a chocolate tasting, the museum has a café and shop selling a range of chocolate delights including black, white, milk and 'Le Noir Gastronomie' chocolate, as well as assorted truffles and pralines. The box I bought were of superb quality.

The Chocolate Museum is open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. till 7 p.m., excluding Tuesday when it is closed all day. Sundays and public holidays it is open from 10 a.m. till 3 p.m. Tickets cost 500 pesetas per person, or 400 pesetas per person for groups of 15 or more.

It is located at Placa Pons i Clerch, (no number), which is most easily found by walking along Carrera del Commerç, near to Parc de la Ciutadella.