IICCT Level 1 Certificate in Chocolate Tasting

Description

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 Teachers and Chocolate Educators Kathryn Laverack and Joy Skipper. Level 1 is currently taught at teaching and tasting venues in Louth, Lincolnshire and Pangbourne, Berkshire.

If you choose to study at the Louth venue, we are just a short drive away from Duffy’s Chocolate micro-batch factory and there is a supplementary visit that can be joined before the start of the Level 2 course on the afternoon of the Friday.

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 day and a half 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.

Exam

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

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 on the first day. Please let us know of any dietary requirements.

Who should take this course?

This course will be ideal for you if you:

Course Venues

Louth 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. 

Supplementary Learning in Louth

The Louth course is just a short drive away from Duffy’s Chocolate micro-batch factory near Cleethorpes and there is a supplementary visit that can be joined between Level 1 and the start of the Level 2 course on the afternoon of Friday.

Pangbourne Venue

Set in the Thames Valley, Pangbourne is easily reached by rail - roughly an hour from Paddington or Heathrow. If travelling by car Pangbourne is close to the M4, with amble parking available.

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

Other information

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/

For those who are new to fine chocolate, Cocoa Encounters offers an online Appreciation of Fine Chocolate course. This provides an introduction to the sector, its background and what distinguishes fine chocolate through its focus on Taste, Transparency and Craftsmanship. It’s a great way to build your understanding of the wider fine chocolate world before studying for your Level 1.

Find out more: https://cocoa-encounters.cademy.io/an-appreciation-of-fine-chocolate-micro-learning

Gifting Options: If you would like to gift this course or experience, simply visit the VOUCHER page and enter an amount that covers the course fee.
You can choose to have the voucher emailed directly to the recipient upon purchase, or download and print a PDF to give or email to the recipient.