How useful is certification for guaranteeing the quality of cocoa beans from a given source? And how does it benefit the farmers in producing countries? It’s a debate that has raged within the cocoa community for some time and it… Read More ›
Gastronomy
Tain l’Hermitage: where fine chocolate meets fine wine
Tain l’Hermitage is a small town on the left bank of the Rhône in south-eastern France. Located in the northern part of the Côtes du Rhône appellation contrôlée area, Tain l’Hermitage produces some of the world’s finest wines. It is… Read More ›
Chocolate tasting in the Basque country
Although the Basque Country has a strong history in chocolate-making, there are today very few artisan chocolatiers of Basque origin, let alone chocolatiers who make their own chocolate, from bean-to-bar. A century ago, nearly every chocolate craftsman would have made… Read More ›
France’s first chocolate-makers
Who would have thought of the Basque Country as one of the first places in Europe to be home to chocolate-making as we know it today? Surprisingly, this aspect of the region’s rich heritage is only beginning to receive recognition…. Read More ›
When the cocoa trail becomes the chocolate trail
All good things come to an end. Now it is time for me to return to Europe. But rest assured! It is not the end of the cocoa trail! It is going to swiftly lead into the chocolate trail. With… Read More ›
Getting producers to taste their very own cocoa liquor
After my week living with the farmers of Chulucanas, I really wanted to give something back to the communities who received me so kindly and with such an open heart. Surprisingly, I discovered, it is very rare for cacao farmers… Read More ›
Peru’s very own Cacao and Chocolate Show
Earlier this month, I was invited to participate in Peru’s “Salon de Cacao y Chocolate”, a five-day trade and consumer show dedicated to Peruvian chocolate makers and cacao producers. As a delegate, I was able to attend conferences, demonstrations and… Read More ›
