An exciting new opportunity to study in person for your International Institute of Chocolate and Cacao Tasting (IICCT) Foundation level 1 course in Chocolate Tasting.

The course and teaching will be led by IICCT Teacher and Chocolate Educator Kathryn Laverack and will be delivered at her recently launched teaching and tasting venue at The Mart, in the town centre. Louth is a traditional foodie destination in the heart of the Lincolnshire Wolds. It is also just a short drive away from Duffy’s Chocolate micro-batch factory and visits can be organised outside of the course program.

About the course

Level 1 Chocolate Tasting lays the sensory foundation for your journey as a Chocolate Taster, introduces chocolate making in the fine and craft chocolate world, and takes you through where cacao comes from and how it is produced.

During the course you will experience the sensory elements used in chocolate tasting through a series of tasting games and experiments and you will practice using a formal approach to chocolate tasting.

The Foundation course is designed to run over a single day workshop. Level 1 course provides a good grounding in chocolate tasting and includes tasting of 9 or more different origin or blended fine dark chocolate bars, tasted in different forms for an understanding of aroma, length, texture and taste. The chocolate tasted includes examples of well-made craft chocolate origins and examples of defects and industrial production.

The course finishes with a 30-question multiple choice exam based on the course content. Certificates will be issued upon achieving a pass mark.

What's included

Training the chocolate senses

Taste and explore flavour in fine chocolate
Introduction to the origins and varieties of cacao
Overview of how cacao is produced
How fine or craft chocolate is made
How cocoa butter and cocoa powder are made
Taste and recognize flaws in chocolate
A look at direct sourcing of cacao
Study booklet
Certificate for exam passes
All the chocolate and sensory samples you will need*
Lunch

The course fee includes £50 for registration with our UK-based accreditor, FDQ for Level 1 and issue of an official Ofqual (UK Government) approved certificate for the “FDQ Level 1 Foundation Award in Chocolate Tasting”, should you pass the assessment. Retakes will be charged at 85€ (incl. VAT) and will be taken online.

Lunch is provided. Please let us know of any dietary requirements.

Who should take this course?

This course will be ideal for you if you:

Love chocolate, and want to know more about its flavour and origins
Are a chocolate maker who wants to expand their sensory skills
Are an educator or event organiser looking for more information to pass on to your audience
Work in the catering/pastry/fine chocolate industries
Want to improve your clients’ experience of chocolate you are working with
You are considering launching a fine chocolate business
You want to buy a fascinating and unique gift for someone
You want to see just how good your palate is for chocolate

Course Venue

You can travel to Louth by car, bus or train, the nearest railway stations are Grimsby Town, and Market Rasen. Contact Kathryn for any pre-booking enquiries and information on the venue, public transport options, parking and accommodation: email cocoaencounters@gmail.com.

Please note: the venue for this in-person course is situated on the second floor of a Victorian building, which does not have a lift. Please contact the course provider for further information or a copy of the accessibility statement.

Reasonable and Adjustments and Special Considerations

The IICCT Reasonable Adjustments or Special Considerations Policy is available to download here https://www.chocolatetastinginstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/IICCT-Reasonable-Adjustments-and-Special-Considerations-Policy.pdfCombined Level 1 & Level 2

Entry Requirements

None. The Level 1 chocolate tasting course is open to all and is suitable for professionals and enthusiasts.

For further information on the IICCT and their courses visit: https://www.chocolatetastinginstitute.org/