Diploma
A bonus of working for Hotel Chocolat is that I've had the opportunity to enrole onto the chocolate diploma. The chocolate diploma is a program divised by Hotel Chocolat in order for their employees to become authorities on everything chocolate.
It covers everything from the detailed history of cacao and chocolate to the process involved in making chocolate right from the bean and even the ethical issues that surround the growing and cultivation of the bean in under privledged countries.
It's not all theory though. We have the opportunity to learn how to temper chocolate and how to mould it correctly. We will learn the secrets of making top quality blends from couvetures from around the world. But the most exciting part is making our own recipe from bean to bar!
Finally, because Hotel Chocolat has their own Cocoa estate - the Rabot Estate in St Lucia" we can also get hands on experience in growing and harvesting Cacao - what an experience for real chcoclate enthusiasts!
The diploma is a 12 month course, and I have outlined the main objectives below so that you can get a better understanding of what is involved. I will also be discussing parts of the diploma in my blog so feel free to leave any comments there.
By the end of this program I will:
• Be able to describe the detailed elements of the cocoa-growing and couverture manufacturing processes
• Have learnt how to blend, temper and mould chocolate
• Have created and produced your own chocolate recipes
• Understand and be able to troubleshoot the issues that can occur with fresh chocolate
• Know how to correctly taste and appreciate fine chocolate
• Hold a market-wide database of chocolates you have tasted and assessed
• Have an in-depth understanding of the chocolate market-place, commercial drivers and the chocolatier’s pyramid (this is a "" coined term which I will discuss in the blog)
• Have an in-depth understanding of the evolution of chocolate and its role in society
• Be an authority on the Fair Trade and Ethical Trading debate and its relation to cocoa
• Be able to describe the nutritional and health benefits of chocolate and its key ingredients
• Have prepared and run a public event on the subject of chocolate