One might wonder how a small country with just under 9 million people topped the list. When it comes to chocolate, Switzerland offers many advantages, particularly in flavor. Known for legendary brands like Lindt and Toblerone, the country excels in chocolate expertise.
In 1819, Swiss entrepreneur François-Louis Cailler established one of Switzerland's earliest chocolate plants from an abandoned mill. The Cailler chocolate brand, still around today, was born from this event.
Despite the brand's great success, something was missing. History professor Laurence Tissot of Switzerland's University of Neuchâtel said chocolate was salty and unpleasant. It gave hungry people a little energy but did little else.
After Daniel Peter and Henri Nestlé, founders of famous chocolate businesses, added milk to the mix, milk chocolate history was made.
Is it any wonder that the Swiss are the biggest chocolate enthusiasts given their reputation for making world-class milk chocolate? They celebrate it with Festichoc, an annual chocolate festival.
Why is Swiss chocolate popular? What motivates the Swiss to eat so much chocolate each year besides its rich history and creative production methods? The French have a long history with wine, but they can't match Luxembourg's 17.7 gallons per capita, compared to the average French citizen's 11 gallons.
Several factors contribute to the rationale, including the strong connection between chocolate and Swiss culture and its importance in gifting.
Swiss brands are highly regarded as expensive and sophisticated, similar to how Italians view their pizza. With 16 large and numerous lesser chocolate makers, the variety may make it tempting to try various flavors for a distinctive and fresh experience.