Germany has many food icons, what are the first ones that spring into your mind? Sauerkraut? Lebkuchen? Wurst? Maybe if you’ve visited Germany you’d have thought of Currywurst, Spaghettieis or Spezi? Why some products don’t breech international borders and not others I don’t know. Chocolate isn’t just a Swiss or Belgian speciality, Germany has its very own pocket sized icon which I think deserves to known around the world too.

The wunderkind of German chocolate has to be the iconic Ritter Sport, its tagline is Quadratisch (Square). Praktisch (practical/convenient). Gut (good). There is even a right way to open the 100g packet, simply break the bar in two and you’re in. The flavours are plentiful but usually quite simple and straightforward, like the tagline. These small square bars are somewhat of a German institution, one that even enjoys making fun of itself.

I was first introduced to this square chocolate bar when I came to Germany on a school language exchange. My host family had left some treats for me in my room in the form of stack of strange square bars of chocolate and sparkling water, both of which 14 year old me hated. Of course being on my best behaviour I hid the chocolate in my bag to take home for my little sister and left the water open to try and let it go flat before I drank it.

A metre of mini Ritter Sports! – Photo – Alie

Unfortunately my host family clearly thought I was very greedy and quite stupid as the next day a new stack of chocolate appeared and a new bottle of water with a post it note attached reminding me to put the lid back on after use. What can I say? I clearly made the best first impression! This time the bar at the top of the stack was red and appeared to be marzipan flavour (thankfully the same in German and English as I’d only been studying German for six months at the time). Instantly my interest was piqued, I simply love marzipan and was prepared to look beyond my hatred of chocolate to see what it was like.

At the end of my stay my host family presented me with a stack of red Ritter Sport bars, since it was the only one that they’d been able to work out that I’d eaten from the empty wrapper. I was clearly never going to work for MI5. Since hitting my thirties I have developed more of a taste for chocolate, though marzipan will always be my first true love I won’t say no to a Weisse Voll-Nuss (white whole nut) or Trauben Nuss (raison nut).

The Ritter Sport factory, where all their chocolate is produced, is located in Waldenbuch, near Stuttgart, and just down the road from where I live. Not at all far from its roots in the Bad Cannstatt area of Stuttgart. Started by newlyweds Alfred and Clara Ritter in 1912 this family business has around thirty standard flavours and just as many seasonal varitaions. I would recommend a visit if you enjoy modern art and/or discounted chocolate. There is a small chocolate museum onsite but it is tiny and other than a tiny free chocolate bar (if you get lucky) you aren’t really missing much. There are however workshops for the under 18s but they need to be booked in advance.

The chocolate shop in Waldenbuch, a chocolate lovers paradise – Photo – Alie

The highlights (chocolate wise) are the discount section of the chocolate shop and the café. In the far corner of the shop, past all the other flavours of Ritter Sport and merchandise is the discount section. You might be able to find your favourite in a giant bag for half price or get to taste some of the flavours that are currently being tested. Sometimes one you’ve tasted even goes into production but most are delicious and sadly never to make it into the real world. The site also boasts a modern art museum that houses the family  collections which are somewhat of a homage to the square with strong graphics and use of shape, well worth a look to burn off some chocolate calories.

Whilst the production happens down here in the south the flagship store is located in the capital. Located on the Gendarmenmarkt, ChocoWorld has three floors of chocolate goodness to offer including workshops for children, an extensive shop, exhibition about the history of chocolate and the chance to make your very own personalised bar of Ritter Sport.

Ritter Sport is famous for their limited editions (and fake flavours). Always a little out of the ordinary these limited edition flavours tend to sell out very fast, recent ones include Schoko & Gras (chocolate & Grass/weed) which was made with hemp seeds and sported a hemp leaf (and that it was fully legal) on the pack and Einhorn (unicorn) which was white chocolate with fruit rainbows. Beware the Ritter Sport fake flavours, like Weißbier (wheat beer), Leberwurst (liver sausage) and Mettigel (raw mince pork shaped like a hedgehog) that are not actually chocolate bars, thankfully, but simply advertising to make you smile.

Another fake flavour (hopefully) – Photo – RitterSportBlog

-Alie