Discover the Chocolate Universe – a complete, sensory, and transformative course

January 29, 2026, 10:00 AM --> 6:00 PM

Do you really want to understand the difference between quality chocolate and commercial chocolate? This course is created exactly for you. 

In the program, you will embark on a fascinating journey into the world of cocoa beans – from the plantations in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, to the artisan chocolatiers who transform cocoa into a truly exceptional product. You will learn how origin cocoa differs, what a real percentage of cocoa means, what effects sugar has, what ingredients should be avoided, and how you can choose a truly healthy chocolate.

But this course is not just about information – it's a complete experience.
• Guided tastings with fine chocolates from all continents.
• Sensory exercises that develop your attention, presence, and ability to feel aromas in depth.
• Moments of introspection and mini-mindfulness practices, so that this experience supports you in your personal development as well.
• Practical workshops in which you will observe, touch, and taste chocolate at different stages, to understand the "bean to bar" process in an authentic way.

The course is designed for anyone who wants more than a tasting: it offers you a new perspective on how you choose, consume and enjoy chocolate. You will learn to recognize quality, discover the complexity of flavors and transform a simple square into a conscious experience, full of pleasure and balance.

If you want to develop yourself personally, refine your senses and experience a journey around the world through the aroma of chocolate, this course will offer you exactly what you are looking for – and even more.

The course will be held in Bucharest and will be taught in English. Lunch will be provided.  

Martin Christy is an expert chocolate taster with 30 years experience, travelling the world tasting chocolate and exploring fine cacao. He is the Judging Director of the International Chocolate Awards and a founder of IICCT, the leading worldwide trainer in chocolate sensory education.

Taste chocolate from the new bean-to-bar chocolate makers, learn about cacao and compare the difference with commercial chocolate bars.

What s included?

• Training the chocolate senses
• Taste and explore flavour in fine chocolate
• Introduction to the origins and varieties of cacao
• Overview of how cacao is produced
• How fine or craft chocolate is made
• How cocoa butter and cocoa powder are made
• Taste and recognize flaws in chocolate
• A look at direct sourcing of cacao
• Study booklet
• Certificate for exam passes
• All the chocolate and sensory samples you will need*

Who should take this course?

This course will be ideal for you if you:

• Love chocolate, and want to know more about its flavour and origins
• Are a chocolate maker who wants to expand their sensory skills
• Are an educator or events organiser looking for more information to pass on to your audience
• Work in the catering/pastry/fine chocolate industries
• Want to improve your clients' experience of chocolate you are working with
• You are considering launching a fine chocolate business
• You want to buy a fascinating and unique gift for someone
• You want to see just how good your palate is for chocolate

• Course details

  The course fee includes £50 for registration with our UK-based accreditor, FDQ and issue of an official Ofqual (UK Government) approved certificate for the "FDQ Level 1 Foundation Award in Chocolate Tasting", should you pass the assessment. Retakes will require an additional fee.

  About the course

  Level 1 Chocolate Tasting lays the sensory foundation for your journey as a Chocolate Taster, introduces chocolate making in the fine and craft chocolate world, and takes you through where cacao comes from and how it is produced.

  During the course you will experience the sensory elements used in chocolate tasting through a series of tasting games and experiments and you will practice using a formal approach to chocolate tasting.

  The Foundation course is designed to run over a single day workshop, as three evening class sessions or as three online webinar sessions plus self-study. Level 1 course provides a good grounding in chocolate tasting and includes tasting of 9 or more different origin or blended fine dark chocolate bars, tasted in different forms for an understanding of aroma, length, texture and taste. The chocolate tasted includes examples of well made craft chocolate origins and examples of defects and industrial production.

  The course finishes with a 30 question multiple choice exam based on the course content. Certificates will be issued upon achieving a pass mark.
  
  Entry requirements

  None. The Level 1 chocolate tasting course is open to all comers, and is suitable for professionals and enthusiasts.

  If you are new to the world of fine or craft chocolate, it is recommended you first take the Institute's short 'Introduction to Fine Chocolate' our course, which will introduce you to the basics of the chocolate market, explain what is meant by fine chocolate and introduce terminology that will be used throughout the Institute's courses, such as 'tempering' and 'couverture'.