Surround yourself with chocolate at the spa

The alpine InterContinental Resort in Berchtesgaden has opened what it claims to be the first chocolate spa in Europe, where numerous sweetly-scented treatments are on offer.

A massage using chocolate and a chocolate-based body wrap are available. Guests are also able to choose the flavour of their massage, with orange oil or truffle both on offer. One therapy includes a body mask made of creme de cacao and white chocolate

The spa says that the chocolate treatments do have clear health benefits, including the release of mood-enhancing seratonin and the mineral salts and vitamins contained in cocoa beans.

Chocolate is periodically associated with health benefits.

In 1999, researchers in Holland discovered that chocolate was more healthy than tea because it contained more than four times as many catechins, a chemical which it is believed protects against cancer and heart disease.

And in 2005, Italian researchers found that eating 100 grams of dark chocolate each day lowered blood pressure.