Anyone been here to this tourist trap or museum or whatever it is? What do you think?
I took my mother there with my three kids (all aged under three) and it was a good afternoon thanks to the kids. Not worth writing home about, but very family friendly. If the crowd were just adults I wouldn’t bother going though.
I’ve lived in Taoyuan for nine years, have passed by Republic of Chocolate dozens of times, and I love chocolate…but I’ve never considered going to this place. Don’t know if it’s the name or what but, like you, I’ve assumed it’s a kitchy touristy trap. I’m curious as well.
It’s actually a listed company. Sort of like Taiwan’s version of Hershey’s, but something on a smaller scale.
website of products: http://www.77.com.tw/productIntro.aspx
Go into a 7-11, you’ll see a lot of their products.
On that weblink above, clink “SHOWROOM” and scroll through their chocolate. You may recognize some of them.
Industrially produced chocolates in Taiwan (I’m not talking about the handcrafted ones) are uniformly terrible. Kids may enjoy this place, but intentionally setting out to eat this stuff sounds like a brutal outing.
Guy
I took the family there once. Nothing too exciting. I guess the highlight is these cookie decorating classes where you just throw melted chocolate on some store bought cookies. Good way to spend half an hour or so, I guess, but not worth the trip. Then there’s just some stores selling overpriced chocolate that isn’t great (but doesn’t taste like vomit like Hersheys does).
I think they have DIY cookie/cake shops in Taipei now. I’ve seen a few around but haven’t checked them out.
To expand a little more on the kid friendly side of things - they have a huge outdoor water fountain/play zone with water jets shooting all over the place - very entertaining for little ones. The DIY chocolate and cookie experience is of course also loved by kids, but also nothing particularly special. I would say that the exhibits introducing cocoa and the process of making are little sterile in their information approach like most “factory museums”, but scattered between rooms there are many other activities for kids (dough modelling, drawing easels, lego walls etc) so if you want to take your kids somewhere for two or three hours its worth it.
As a bonus point if you have younger kids, Bade Pond Ecological Park (https://www.google.com.tw/maps/place/Bade+Pond+Ecological+Park/@24.9423884,121.3112051,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xf288e393fa0262bd!8m2!3d24.9423884!4d121.3112051?sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiV7pjg9cbVAhUFlpQKHfDKDysQ_BIIcjAO&shorturl=1) is 5 minutes away and has endless ducks, fish and terrapins around that they can feed.
Another bonus point for adults who embark on this perilous journey with small children; the restaurant/cafe in Republic of Chocolate serves surprisingly good food and drink - we had a great lunch there.