Few things in this world are as widely (and historically) loved as chocolate. As early as 450 BC, people were drinking fermented chocolate-based beverages, and back in those days, it was a bitter concoction thought to give the drinker strength. The Aztec people used cacao as a currency during their time in the 1400s. In 1875, milk chocolate was invented and, in 1847, British chocolatiers invented the chocolate bar. In 1991, Mark Tarner established the South Bend Chocolate Company, and it's our little slice of chocolate history that we're pretty proud of up here in the Midwest. The factory has since then become a museum, too, and this epic chocolate museum in Indiana draws folks in from around the world.

The South Bend Chocolate Factory & Museum is 60,000 square feet of chocolatey amazingness well worth a visit (or ten).

The list of candies, confections and, of course, chocolates the factory produces totals more than 500 items nowadays and not one of them is subpar in quality. This South Bend staple is world-famous for its delectable, noteworthy chocolates, mouthwatering truffles, to-die-for malt balls, cookies, pretzels, and so, SO much more.

There is a public shop inside the factory and museum. Trust us, once you finish your tour, you're going to be tempted to take the entire shop home.

Perhaps best of all, you'll get a 10% discount after completing the museum/factory tour as well.

Tour guests learn the history of chocolate, its origins, and more.

Guests are led through the entire factory process and all of its steps, and then they get a delightful sample at the end of the line! It's a fun and deliciously educational experience fun for adults and kids alike.

We're pretty sure you won't be able to tour the museum and factory without taking anything home.

Everything here is so wonderfully authentic and perfectly crafted. Learning about the loving process of creating these chocolates somehow makes them taste all the sweeter.

Museum and factory tours begin at the top of every hour, so you'll be able to fit it into your schedule at your convenience, and they are free.

You could also opt to do the "Inside Scoop Tour," which goes a lot deeper than the basic factory and museum tours. Unlike the museum tours, there is a small fee for this one. Make sure to check the official website for the most up-to-date costs and tour information while planning your visit.

This particular chocolate museum in Indiana is one of the largest collections of chocolate memorabilia in the world!

Tours are short and sweet, at under an hour each. You'll get a great up-close and personal look at the museum's collection, and, of course, that sweet sample at the end.

South Bend Chocolate Company has a handful of locations across Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan.

So, what do you think? Have you ever - and will you ever - tour this epic chocolate museum in Indiana? You should - it's super sweet! For a map of all the locations and a menu of current offerings, make sure to visit the official website. Need a little more sweet Indiana in your life? Check out this list of the best ice cream shops in the Hoosier State.