UNITED KINGDOM

The UK began its chocolate craze when the drink made its way here in the 1650s – a luxury product that caused quite a stir.

John Cadbury went on to make drinking chocolate a pillar of his firm, founded in 1824. His son expanded on the innovation by creating a village, Bournville, for their workers to live in.

York got its own special imprint from the growth of big-name confectioners, who transported raw materials via the River Ouse and sold goods by York’s Minster Cathedral.

Many were run by Quaker owners, who promoted chocolate as a wholesome alternative to alcohol. Terry’s Chocolate Works, Rowntree’s and Craven’s all flourished here.

London’s oldest chocolate shop, Charbonnel et Walker, opened in 1875. The capital’s Prestat, founded in 1902 by French emigre Antoine Dufour, partly inspired Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. cadburyworld.co.uk, prestat.co.uk, charbonnel.co.uk