Chocolate history workshop Ghent

Ever wanted to make your own chocolate? In this hands-on workshop, you’ll grind cacao beans into chocolate, just like the Maya and Aztecs once did. Create your own chocolate bar and discover the pure flavours of cacao. As you work, you’ll also dive into the fascinating history of Belgian chocolate - from ancient chocolate drinks to the first bonbons. During this workshop, you’ll: • Taste a chocolate drink recipe dating back 5,000 years • Transform cacao beans into chocolate yourself • Recreate a 17th-century hot chocolate recipe • Indulge in chocolate delicacies enjoyed by historical figures across centuries • Discover chocolate’s origins as medicine • Enjoy chocolate bonbons, including the iconic seashells Please note: This is not a chocolate-making class focused on techniques like tempering, melting, or shaping chocolate into truffles or bonbons. Instead, participants will create chocolate from scratch by grinding cacao beans.

Inclusions and Exclusions

Know Before You Go

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Due to the fact that our shop is located in a historical building, it is not easily accessible by wheelchair. If you use a wheelchair or you have any other support needs, contact us beforehand so we can look together what we can do to make this experience accessible for you.
• This activity takes place in a chocolate shop. The tasting room temperature is around 18°C to maintain the quality of the chocolate. We would advise to bring a sweater if you are easily cold.
• For this activity, we only welcome children aged 12 and older. The reason is that participants will be making their own chocolate by manually grinding cacao beans, which requires a certain amount of physical strength.
• This activity requires “normal” strength in your hands and wrists. If you experience reduced strength (for example due to rheumatism or arthritis) grinding the beans may be challenging.