Forget everything you know about chocolate: an exhibition is arriving in Zagreb that reveals its secret past

Before coffee conquered Europe and became what it is today—a daily ritual of meeting and conversation—this role belonged to chocolate.

At a time when we experience chocolate as an accessible everyday indulgence, it is easy to forget that it was once a luxury reserved exclusively for the aristocracy. It is precisely this seductive world of 17th- and 18th-century Europe that the new exhibition of the Chocolate Museum Zagreb explores. Titled “Chocolate – The Secret of the Baroque Boudoir, an Exhibition of Artworks from the Marton Museum”, it opens on April 17 and runs until June 21, 2026.

The central part of the exhibition consists of exceptionally valuable objects from the Marton Museum, one of the most renowned and highly regarded private collections in Croatia and beyond. These are outstanding examples of European porcelain, glass, and silver that testify to the luxury and elegance of aristocratic life. Among them are chocolate cups, sugar bowls, and vessels for preparing chocolate drinks—the so-called chocolatières.

Unusual recipes

One of the most intriguing aspects of the exhibition concerns the preparation of chocolate in Baroque Europe. Before it became a popular dessert, chocolate was a complex drink whose recipes were developed in court kitchens and carefully guarded. In Tuscany, the Medici family elevated chocolate preparation almost to an alchemical art. It was flavored like perfume—alongside vanilla and cinnamon, recipes included ingredients that today seem almost unimaginable, such as ambergris and musk. One of the most famous recipes was jasmine chocolate, prepared by infusing cocoa with fresh jasmine flowers over several days, creating an intensely aromatic drink.

Chocolate as a social ritual

Before coffee took over European cities and became what it is today—a daily ritual of socializing and conversation—chocolate fulfilled that role. At European courts, it was the centerpiece of private gatherings among the aristocracy. Morning chocolate drinking evolved into a carefully orchestrated social custom: selected guests were received in boudoirs or salons, while servants quietly served silver chocolatières and porcelain cups. The paintings of that period are particularly valuable, as they vividly capture such scenes, conveying the atmosphere of a relaxed yet refined everyday life. Chocolate thus set the rhythm of the day and shaped the intimate social spaces of the European elite.

When and where to visit the exhibition

The exhibition “Chocolate – The Secret of the Baroque Boudoir” can be visited at the Chocolate Museum Zagreb, Gundulićeva 26, from April 17 to June 21, 2026.

It can be viewed as part of the regular museum admission or separately, with an admission ticket priced at €2.50 (which doesn’t include admission to the whole Museum nor chocolate tastings).