Whenever my colleagues travel on business, they return with candy and chocolate souvenirs for the office to enjoy. We currently have a spread of Patchi chocolates from the Middle East; red pepper paste, seaweed and hazelnut chocolate from South Korea; and See’s Candies lollipops. Though I enjoy all of these (except the seaweed), my favorite chocolate is made by Finnish confectionary leader Karl Fazer. 

Last month, I popped into Fazer Café for a sweet afternoon pick-me-up after spending most of the day exploring Suomenlinna, a maritime fortress off the coast of Helsinki. Nestled on a side street by the harbor across the street from Hotel Kämp, the café is a popular attraction on the city’s tourist trail and a favorite among locals. A huge space with cute décor and a terrace, the café offers a mouthwatering selection of sweets as well as a variety of breakfast and lunch dishes and freshly baked breads.

Because I spent a few hours outside in the chilly Helsinki weather, I selected a hot chocolate from the menu to warm me up. While my dining companion opted for a hot chocolate with a variety of toppings to sprinkle on top (such as mint, whipped cream and chili powder), I chose a plain cup and was not disappointed. The hot chocolate was creamy and sweet, and with an individually wrapped chocolate on the side, it was the perfect afternoon treat.

The sweet shop also features a storefront with multiple colorful boxes of candy and chocolate available for purchase. I picked up a few edible souvenirs, including milk chocolate wrapped in Fazer’s characteristic blue packaging for my colleagues and a bar of dark chocolate raspberry mousse for my mom, which she said was the best chocolate she’s ever had.

Fazer currently operates in Finland, Sweden, Russia, Estonia, Norway, Denmark, Latvia and Lithuania and is sold at many European airports. I highly recommend picking up a blue box if you ever spot one on your travels.

Where do you get your favorite chocolate?

— Monique Barrett, advertising and editorial coordinator