The Chocolate Affair, T&T’s first ever Christmas Cocoa Fair, takes place at the Normandie Hotel in St Ann’s on December 5.
The Chocolate Affair is being organised by a group of chocolate entrepreneurs associated under the banner Destination Chocolate. The event is open to the public free of charge from 10 am to 3 pm, and features chocolate tasting; a bean to bar demonstration; and a Cocoa Café menu for which tickets and reservations are available, a release said.
Trinidad is the origin of the Trinitario cocoa variety and it is grown on plantations in many cocoa-producing countries in Africa and further east as well as in the Caribbean. Cocoa grown on estates in T&T are prized by chocolatiers for fine flavour?
No cocoa is grown in the temperate countries of the world but European chocolatiers have perfected the art of chocolate making using beans grown in tropical countries.
In T&T, a handful of enterprising young people under the umbrella Destination Chocolate are investing in and re-inventing the fine art of transforming cocoa into delectable chocolate, in creole drinking cocoa, bars, bonbons and culinary ingredients. Other artisans are inspired to create art and jewelry; soaps, lotions and body care products.
Two of the primary goals of Destination Chocolate T&T are to lend support to poorly capitalised farmers and cocoa growing communities; and to ensure that a thoughtful marketing approach is used in the local chocolate industry as increasing numbers of cacao processors—including chocolate makers—enter the local scene. Both of these goals are supported by collaborative marketing in Destination Chocolate events, and the potential for exporting together.
At the Normandie there will be sampling and a menu of chocolate inspired courses: chocolate pumpkin soup; cocoa pulp rum smoothie; chocolate pudding and breadfruit crepe among others. Patrons will be encouraged to be connoisseurs and see if they can distinguish Northern Range cocoa from that grown in Montserrat Hills or Gran Couva or deep south in Rancho Quemado.
There have been Chocolate Days in September at the Green Market Santa Cruz and October at the Cocoa Research Centre at UWI. Patrons are promised information from some of the most knowledgeable people in the cocoa industry and fabulous presents for everyone on their lists.
• Call the Normandie 326-7631 or 705-9842 to book the Cocoa Café meal.
