The first trade fair I got to visit with my new job did not disappoint.

The International Sweets Fair is the biggest in Germany: a 4 day fair in Cologne that took up 6+ halls at the Cologne convention center.

I can’t even begin to describe the extent of food products that were represented there, and the pictures only scratch the surface.

And it wasn’t only sweets. Foods included everything from snacks and breakfast foods to bars and ingredients. Sweet..savory…from countries all over the world.

Anyone who knows me knows that now I have a very vivid idea of what heaven will look like.

I entered the fair with the resolve to only sample what was necessary. That didn’t last long.

The first booth was by a French supplier of chocolate. You could fill up your cup with different kinds of innovative chocolate chips, filling, nuts, cookie pieces, brownie bites…they had matcha truffles and macarons, and the man behind the counter was dishing out soft serve ice cream with toppings.

For 5 hours, I sampled chips, roasted beans, peanut butter, organic raw bars, new products out of London, Ireland, Turkey, Belgium.

I got cups of popcorn and Reese’s peanut butter cups from the US booths (both rare in Germany).

I tasted dried fruit bars from the Middle East and cracker/chips from the Czech Republic.

And I came home with a bag full of goodies with no clue how I’m going to eat them all.

The next trade fair is in April – the International Trade Fair for Fitness, Wellness and Health.

I hope I’ll be able to work off the extra pounds by then!