Cacao Sensory Evaluation
Introduction to sensory principles, the CoEx flavour wheel and practical tasting exercises.
Building Capacity at Origin · CoEx Origins Training
CoEx Origins Training
Cacao Quality and Market Opportunities for Producers and Producer Organisations
A three day training combining sensory evaluation, physical quality assessment, practical demonstrations and discussion of differentiated cacao markets. Participants discover the diversity of flavours cacao can express, understand how quality develops from genetics through post-harvest and processing, and identify practical opportunities for improving quality and consistency.
What the training covers
The programme moves from principles to practice: two days combine sensory evaluation, physical quality assessment and an introduction to differentiated cacao markets, followed by a field day that puts the concepts into practice in a real setting.
Sessions planned in October in Perugia, update on this website soon.Training Modules
Flavour Formation
How genetics, harvesting, fermentation and drying influence flavour potential and quality.
Physical Quality Analysis
Bean size, defects, foreign matter, cut test methodology and interpretation of results.
Processing and Flavour
From dried beans to chocolate, including roasting, sample preparation and equipment considerations.
Markets and Buyers
Differentiated cacao markets, buyer expectations, consistency, credibility and quality management.
Day Three: From Theory to Practice
The final day applies the concepts covered in the classroom in a real world environment. The format is adapted to the location and objectives of the training.
Laboratory and Processing Visit
Follow the journey from dried cacao beans to chocolate through cut tests, roasting, sample preparation, processing demonstrations and discussion of minimum equipment for quality monitoring.
Farm and Post-Harvest Visit
Observe quality creation at origin through plantation management, genetics, harvesting, fermentation and drying, and discuss practical improvements applicable to participants' own farms and organisations.
Looking to adapt this training for a specific group, or reach several communities at once? See Tailored Capacity Building.
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