[mks_dropcap style=”letter” size=”48″ bg_color=”#ffffff” txt_color=”#000000″]C[/mks_dropcap]hocolate is probably one of the most popular confections in the world. Produced in a countless variety of sorts and flavours that many of us enjoy. But how much do we know about chocolate, its origin and the innovations in the industry?

The Chocoa festival was held from 24 to 25 February in Beurs van Berlage. The aim of the festival was to showcase the production of good cocoa and inform consumers about the advantages of good cocoa in terms of quality, flavor, and production process.

The aspect of the festival that caught my attention the most was the fact that this event included stands with chocolate from all over the world. Aside from tasting chocolates by top patissiers and chocolatiers, you could also experience the uniqueness of the chocolate bars and the regions and countries they came from. The exhibitors are from South America, Africa, Europe and Asia. Each country has a specialty and each region have different characteristics and a different climate, which results in a vibrant collection of unique chocolates. This festival is essentially the platform for each exhibitor to communicate a story about their country through the medium of chocolate.

If I had to be honest, I attended this event for chocolate. However, I came home with more than just a few bars of chocolate and a bottle of wine. Through the presentations and demonstrations, I learned about the hard work that goes into making a bar of chocolate, the progress in the industry and the stories each bar can hold.

Photographer: Linh Dinh / Final Editor: Tamar Hellinga