Where won’t we go for fine flavor chocolate?
My journey this weekend took me over 3,000 miles to the San Francisco Fine Chocolate Industry Association conference. Growers, makers, manufacturers, chocolatiers (and me) from all over the globe, all parts of the supply chain, in one room. Chocolate tasting? Of course! A taste of the recently HCP certified Maya Mountain Cacao and a sample (or maybe a few) of Mesocacao’s 80% Nicaraguan. Networking? Even better. “Come to my farm,” – a personal invitation from an Ecuadorian grower. “But expect to be put to work.” My favorite? The stories. The story of the struggling farm worker, the expanding bean to bar business, and a chocolatier’s account of his customers’ experience. At all levels of the supply chain, there are stories.
Chocolate is tangible, networking is beneficial, but stories are impactful. To know fine chocolate you have to do more than just taste; you have to listen.
There and back again – a title that now seems inadequate. Too finite, too complete. The stories I’ve heard have left me hungry – and for more than just chocolate. There and back and back again.
Sophia