Chocolate: From Commodity Crop to Ephemeral Luxury

Chocolate evokes images of rich desserts, steaming bowls of hot cocoa, and artistic displays of delicious truffles.

This “food of the gods” is one of the world’s most beloved treats—but it is also a vital commodity for more than 5 million cacao producers and the foundation of a global industry worth roughly $130 billion.

To love chocolate is to understand it deeply enough to make informed choices when enjoying it.

We will learn how cacao and chocolate move from the farm to your palate, engaging with questions of tropical agronomy, international trade and manufacturing, global politics, contemporary ethics, and social justice.

Of course, the most satisfying way to learn about chocolate is by eating it.

The course will include guided tastings to help you recognize how chocolate is not one flavor but a gateway to many sensory experiences.

This course is for people who want to be more confident in navigating chocolate products and more thoughtful about their chocolate consumption.

This course includes optional chocolate tastings.

The cost will be approximately $150–$200.

Enrolled students will receive information about how to order.