VILNIUS — Opera and ballet shows have been a mainstay of Vilnius’s evening entertainment for decades. But even if you’re not that into the classics, it’s worth sitting through the arias and pirouettes for my favorite dessert.

It's not espresso — it's liquid chocolate.

I’m talking about the hot chocolates served at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre at the break during shows. If you are from the West, don’t jump to conclusions and think we are on the same page — this is pure, liquid chocolate that you eat with a spoon, not the thin, chocolate-tinted water you get back home.

Locals tell me that the karstas šokoladas is one of the few enjoyable hangovers from the Soviet era and they all rush to get one when at the ballet or opera.

At the opera house in Vilnius, if you are one of the fastest to run out of the hall, you can pick up two cups of hot chocolate — one for you and one for, erm… a friend — by yelling “du puodelius šokolado!” at the bartender. Usually the hot chocolates are served in espresso glasses and cost six litai (€1.74) each.

It is almost worth going to the opera just to get one of these little cups — and if the show is boring, you may need the sugar hit to keep you awake. And of course you can make it easily enough at home.

Just take three spoons of cocoa, one cup of sugar, half a pack of butter and a dash of milk and put them all in a pot together and heat it up slowly while stirring. Lithuanians as well as other Europeans commonly make the dessert at home, but it’s hard to come by readymade in Vilnius outside of the opera house.

Upcoming shows and prices are listed here on the theatre’s website.