CLASS IN DETAIL

 

This hands-on chocolate-making CLASS starts right from the cacao bean! Taught by Vadnay Chocolate owner Joe Vadnay, you'll LEARN SOME history and background of chocolate making while GOING THROUGH ALL THE chocolate making steps BY HAND.

 

In step one, you'll crack the cacao beans with a rolling pin, a process that reduces the bean to a point where you can winnow (blow off husks) the beans using hair dryers and separating the husk from the nib. The cocoa nib is then put in a hand crank grinder and further processed so the machinery can better handle it. After grinding, you'll slowly add the cocoa to the melanger  (stone mill grinding machine). As the melanger works the beans, they will eventually turn into an oily paste called chocolate liquor (no alcohol content).  

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To achieve chocolate in the form we expect for consumer use and sale, it takes at least 48 hours from start to finish. The majority of that time is when the chocolate is grinding in the melanger until it's smooth and sugar/sweetener and/or cocoa butter and/or milk powder can be added. Once your ground nibs go into the melanger we'll skip the wait 48-hour wait time and pour prepared ahead chocolate into a mold; once cooled, you will pop out tempered chocolate to take home! 
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Due to the nature of the chocolate making, dust is produced and eye protection is provided along with hair nets, aprons, and gloves.

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SKILL LEVEL: FUN & EASY FOR ALL AGES; BEST FOR KIDS OVER AGE 8