European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 19, 1995, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A amps Adrian Jackson the chocolate museum equipped with its own drawbridge sits on an Island in the Middle of the Rhine  a a    mme  in 11 i Himm i. A satisfy your Sweet tooth at the chocolate museum \6 vol 1 i r i a % v v a l i to Ives amps Adrian Jackson a mannequin greets visitors at the coat it Heck stand. By Adrian Jackson amid the cultural and religious museums of Cologne lies a chocolate Paradise. The Imhoff Stollwerck museum offers a delightful excursion into the world of chocolate that chocolate lovers and no lovers will enjoy equally. The museum equipped with its own drawbridge occupies an Island in the Middle of the Rhine River. A mixture of Glass and Metal surrounding what was previously Stollwerck  to embody history and Success. A a. A once inside the museum the Sweet smells of chocolate fill the air. Immediately to the left is the Schoko shop crammed with goodies. Though it s difficult one should ignore the shop until after the tour. The first exhibit is a Pictor documentary of where and How Cocoa Beans Are grown and processed. A Large Wall Chart details which equatorial country produces which Type of chocolate bitter dark Sweet Etc. Even though it s written in German it is easy to comprehend. Massive machines with Granite rollers used in the 1800s to ground Beans introduce an exhibit on the Stollwerck s company history. Photos document the depression child labor and War. The company s Annua Success can be measured by the growth of the staff in each group photograph. Upstairs an exhibit of porcelain and Silver dishes tells a history of Europe that mingles wealth with chocolate. Aristocrats employed Quot chocolate girls Quot to serve them hot Cocoa and Candy treats a daily. Ancient tools and statues Tell a different tale of the Worth of chocolate. Cocoa was a commodity to primitive South american cultures Long before Europe discovered the new world. On the top floor an amazing collection of Stollwerck collector s tins lines the shelves of an old fashioned Candy store display. The colourful advertisement posters along the Wall Lead to a huge room with More than 30 old vending machines in All shapes sizes and colors a including a beautifully detailed dutch Windmill. Portraits of the company  fathers and a display of awards and medals boast a history of Fine chocolate treats admired across Europe and the United states. A a a a. A a a the owners of the Stollwerck factory took Pride not Only in their chocolates but also their wrappings a As evident in the commemorative boxes and paper on display. A. A. In the rear of the museum is of course the chocolate factory. The Small factory is two stories tall and run by fewer than a dozen employees who Are undisturbed by. The gawking and drooling of hungry tourists. The upper level specializes in truffles and Large chocolate holds. The lower level where bile size Alpine bars Are made is clearly the most exciting. Watching the Beans grind the ingredients mix the trays fill and the bars Cool feels like being one of Willy Wonka s chosen ones. The Assembly line is protected by plastic covers so even children can safely get close enough to peer into the machines and watch the magic of Candy bar making from beginning to end. At the end of this unguided tour a modern Day chocolate girl passes out samples from the Quot chocolate.  after seeing the ingredients and the amount of fat that goes into a Candy bar and watching the smooth Brown clumps slosh through a handful of machines the Only thing left to do is visit the Schoko shop. Located at the Entrance of the museum it is filled with a tantalizing variety of chocolate treats some of which were produced in the museum the prices Are Only pfennig less than regular Market Price but the temptation is Strong and so is the Aroma. For no chocolate lovers the Supply of tote bags key chains and books makes great souvenirs. The Imhoff Stollwerck museum is a chocolate treat that the entire family can enjoy. In a City full of museums this one stands out. Adrian Jackson is a Froe Lance writer living in rides tall Crums Ladt Germany. Stripes Magazine january 19, 1995