Guided Chocolate Experience: Chocolate & Change -People, Power & the Future

What is it really like to live in a cocoa-growing community? What has changed since the colonial era — and what hasn’t? How do companies relate to farmers and families in practice?

Across 90 minutes, we’ll listen to special guests rooted in cocoa communities — alongside partners who work with farmers — to compare experiences from West Africa, the Americas and beyond. We’ll surface what daily life looks like, notice similarities and differences, and explore hopeful, community-led ways forward.

We’ll taste along the way to connect every story to flavour.

Designed for adults.

What we’ll cover (clear, practical and human)

• Life in cocoa communities today — seasons and cash flow, care work and schooling, youth prospects, gender roles, climate shocks and recovery.
• Similarities & differences across regions — farm sizes, crops alongside cocoa, co-ops, local processing, and how these shape daily life.
• History & colonial legacies — how centuries of trade set prices and power; what’s changed (laws, organising, local enterprise) and what remains stubborn (volatility, weak bargaining power).
• Industry relationships — how specs, payment timelines, quality incentives and contracts affect households — and why farmer voice matters.
• Community-led initiatives — co-ops and farmer groups, women’s leadership, youth programmes, diversification and value-at-origin efforts.
• What tends to work (and what doesn’t) — longer-term buying with clear quality goals; co-designed support; transparency — versus short, PR-first schemes.

How the tasting links to the theme

You’ll taste a range that makes the system visible: familiar confectionery/industrial styles alongside craft single-originand, where possible, origin-made/community-led bars — a quick way to compare flavour, value and Responsiblepractice. Palate cleansers provided.

Tickets

• Single session: £20 Standard / £17.50 Member / *£30 Supporter
• Both experiences (Package): £37.50 Standard / £32.50 Member / *£50 Supporter* minimum of £10/ goes directly to cocoa farmer participation

Dietary & allergens

We ask for dietary needs/allergens at checkout. If you didn’t complete this, email contact@chocolution.org within 24 hours of booking or at least 72 hours before your session with your name, session time and details/severity. Chocolates may contain or have traces of milk, nuts/peanuts, soya/soy lecithin, sesame, gluten. We cannot guarantee a nut-free or dairy-free environment. For severe allergies (e.g. anaphylaxis), this may not be suitable.

Access

Seated tables, calm pace, clear guidance. Step-free/accessible seating available — tell us at checkout or email. Essential companion/carer: free companion place (email after booking). Guide/assistance dogs welcome — please note chocolate is dangerous to dogs; handlers must keep dogs away from samples/waste. (No pets or emotional-support animals.)

To get the most from your tasting

• Please avoid perfume/aftershave and scented lotions on the day.
• For 1–2 hours beforehand, avoid strong flavours, coffee, alcohol, chewing gum, and smoking/vaping.
• Arrive a few minutes early so your senses can settle.

How to Get Here – Carrow House, Norwich (NR1 2TG)

🚆 By TrainNorwich Railway Station is about a 15–16 minute walk from Carrow House. Taxis are available outside the station, or you can take a short bus ride towards King Street.

🚌 By BusFrom Norwich Bus Station (served by routes from Beccles, Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth and other areas), it’s about a 15–20 minute walk to Carrow House.The nearest bus stops are on King Street and Bracondale, both a short walk from the venue.

🚗 By Car & ParkingWhen you arrive at Carrow House, you’ll see a small parking area in front of the main building. These spaces are reserved for disabled visitors only.

We have [insert number] visitor parking spaces on site. Please drive past the front of the building, continue beyond the glass Orangery, and through the gates to the larger visitor car park at the rear. Parking here is free of charge, but spaces are limited and first-come, first-served.

If the rear car park is full, nearby alternatives include:

• Rouen Road Car Park (NR1 1RB) – paid public parking, about 12 minutes’ walk.
• Riverside Retail Park – about 10 minutes’ walk, with 2.5 hours free parking (please check on-site signage for limits).