Booking options
£23 - £35
£23 - £35
Delivered Online
1 hour 30 minutes
What is a fine chocolate tasting?
If you have ever been to a fine wine tasting then you will know just what to expect from a craft chocolate tasting. Fine chocolate is, after all, the new wine. Getting together to learn how to taste, by sampling some of the world’s finest craft chocolate, is an innovative, educational and fun experience.
Who books this type of experience?
These sessions are a great option for a team reward or an innovative team building activity. They are also booked for special anniversaries, or just as a get-together with colleagues, friends or family. No previous experience is needed, the world of fine chocolate is not an exclusive one; given a little knowledge and guidance, we can all experience the joys of this new type of chocolate.
Where are they held?
Experiences are tailored to your team or party's requirements. We create an experience online with tasting boxes posted to attendees. The minimum number of attendees for a group booking is 3 people, the price depends on the number of attendees.
What do they include?
You will learn the art of sensorial tasting and take a journey around the fine chocolate globe with a tasting of white, milk, dark and flavoured chocolate from different cacao growing regions. The session includes a tasting of a choice of with-dairy or vegan chocolate tasting set with a choice of either vegan or with-dairy chocolate.
You can choose the discovery session or I can curate a themed session such as "The Best of British", "Women in Chocolate", "Ethical Chocolate" or whatever subject you might wish to explore from the world of chocolate. If you choose the discovery session this is what you will learn:
1. Tell the fine from the fashionable – judge the quality of a chocolate bar using the quality criteria of Taste, Transparency & Craftsmanship.
2. Practice the art of sensorial tasting – use each of the five senses to appreciate the taste experience of fine chocolate.
3. Recognise the origins – identify the growing regions and taste profiles of fine cacao.
4. Impress your friends – show off your knowledge with some fine chocolate facts and figures.
5. Talk like a taster – have the confidence and vocabulary to participate in further tastings
Is there anything else we need to know?
Allergen information: The with-dairy tasting set includes chocolate containing milk. The vegan option contains no dairy ingredients but does contain nuts. Both the with-dairy and vegan sets contain bars that have been made in factories or kitchens that handle nuts, gluten and dairy. Full ingredient lists are provided along with each of the samples but if you would like any further information before ordering please contact cocoaencounters@gmail.com or please let me know of any allergies when you make a booking and I will contact you with further details.
Postage: Tasting boxes can be posted out to any UK address. You will have the option for adding postage during the booking process. All parcels are sent Royal Mail Tracked 48-hour delivery. You will receive a message from Royal Mail to let you know when your parcel will be delivered and how to make alternative delivery arrangements if you won't be in.
Yes.
All the dark bars we taste are vegan and the craft chocolate sector has some very good vegan chocolate makers who provide milk alternatives in both white and milk bars.
Allergens in vegan bars.
The vegan bars often use nuts as milk alternative and they are made in factories or kitchens that handle nuts, gluten and dairy.
If you wish to include people outside the UK in your booking, this is possible and I have done this on many occasions but we will need to discuss the costings and practicalities of posting chocolate outside the UK to decide if this a viable option.
I curate pairing sessions with wine, whisky and craft beer on a regular basis, working with licensed venues. If you wish to include wine in your session that is perfectly possible, I can make recommendations for you but you would need to purchase the alcohol separately from a licensed company.
Absolutely yes. I teach children in primary schools and I deliver sessions to older children and families too. Children often have very good palates and enjoy learning about where the flavours come from and where their food comes from.
Kathryn Laverack is a Certified Chocolate Educator and International Chocolate Judge who founded Cocoa Encounters to share her passion for fine chocolate.