This is a definite must do for all visitors to Epcot with a sweet tooth. Recently opened (late 2010) is the Karamell-Küche shop in the Germany Pavilion. This new store is situated on the site of the former Glas und Porzellan in the front of the pavilion. It is sponsored by Storck USA, who are the makers of Werther' s Original Caramels. Just hearing the word Werthers makes me want to visit this new shop! The shop is unique in as much as it is the only freestanding retail location for Werther’s in the world.
The shop is open during regular World Showcase hours and the queues as you would expect are quite long but you move quite quickly.
Apparently the smell is fantastic outside as well as inside the shop so even those who are not aware of its existence will soon be tempted in. Inside you will find a wide array of prepackaged Werther' s candies. In addition each day cast members make amongst many other delights fresh caramel sweets which include caramel apples and popcorn, caramel-drizzled cupcakes, rice krispie treats, cookies and strawberries. I cannot wait to try the rice krispie treats! Guests at our villa who recently visited here said it was fascinating to watch the cast members as they made up batches of savory hot caramel then drizzled it over popcorn, cupcakes and a variety of fruit.
In addition to watching the cast members at work you can also browse around the awesome displays, it may well take a while for you to decide what to buy. At time of writing this guide you will pay $5. 45 for a regular caramel-dipped apple and up to $9. 95 for a specialty, such as Rocky Road (covered with nuts, chocolate pieces and marshmallows) or Apple Pie. One word of warning when there are so many fantastic varieties is to check the ingredients if your children have nut allergies. My parents forgot to do this a few years ago when buying toffee apples at Premium Outlets and my daughter who has a nut allergy albeit not a severe one was violently sick.
There are also cheaper snack type items such as a small bag of caramel popcorn ($2. 95) gourmet caramels ($3. 95), the chocolate and caramel covered strawberries ($3. 95).
If you are buying some of the regular Werther' s candies (more like we are used to in the UK) you can get 1. 8 oz. roll packs for $. 95, 4. 5 oz. bags for $2. 95. One item I will definitely buy is sugar-free Werther' s currently priced at 1. 48 oz. minis for $1. 45; 2. 75 oz. bags for $2. 95 and 7. 7 oz. bags for $8. 95. I think I will initially buy a mini stroll around World Showcase while I sample them then return to buy more if I like them!