Grenada: The 2nd Annual Grenada Chocolate Festival - Bean to Bar

When asked if I would like to visit Grenada at the time of the Chocolate Festival this year there was only one word I could answer with - Yes!!

The Grenada Chocolate Festival is the project of Magdalena Fielden, Mexican born however currently owning the True Blue Bay Boutique Resort, with her husband Russ, on the island (see previous post).

We filled our days with tours, talks about chocolate, yoga sessions (well I didn't do the yoga!), fashion shows, visits to chocolate farmers and eating loads and loads of chocolate.  The purpose of the chocolate festival is to educate people to the delights and health benefits, the pure fun of eating chocolate as well as to the growing and production of one of the most popular products world wide.

Some highlights of the Chocolate Festival:-

Nutmeg Processing Plant Tour,

Rum factory Tour,

Local Chocolate,

Some local guests and friends,

Spice markets,

Festival opening ceremonies and local dignitaries,

Chocolate history from the curator of the Mexican City chocolate museum MUCHO Chocolato (I will be visiting this museum soon),

Grinding cocoa the old fashioned way,

Making chocolate face masks,

Cooking lessons - making our own lunch!

Celebrations and

The cocoa future generation

Chocolate cakes, puddings ........

and drinks ....

My personal highlight was being a chocolate farmer for a day.  Upon arrival we set off to the side of the hills where the cocoa plants grow, collected the cocoa pods as they were cut down, took the 'wet cocoa' out of the pods and helped transport the buckets back.  You can read all about my adventures from that day here.

Sometimes you need to throw some chocolate down your neck and a quick stop at a petrol station for a Mars bar or Snickers will do nicely however if you are wanting to enjoy some chocolate the you must try a single estate bar from one of the main cocoa growing countries such as Grenada, Venezeula, Equador and others.

Take a piece, smell it and linger with the images it brings to mind, place on your tongue and let the warmth of your mouth start the chocolate melting.  Take time to be in the chocolate moment and identify all the flavours and memories it brings to mind such as blackcurrants, raisins, vanilla and more.

And of course making new friends .........

If you are inspired to visit Grenada for next year's Grenada Chocolate Festival 8-17 May 2016 British Airways fly there on Tuesdays and Saturdays.  True Blue Bay Boutique Resort is the perfect place to stay however should they be full there is a whole list of wonderful hotels and resorts to suit all tastes and styles.

See you there!!

I was a guest of True Blue Bay Boutique Resort and the Grenada Chocolate Festival - I was not required to write a positive review. As usual all opinions and photos are my own except two borrowed from The Grenada Chocolate Festival as labelled.