Inspired by Prime Minister's call for being vocal about local, Cocoashala now announces a live version of their signature bean to bar chocolate making programme.
The programme will use the latest available technology and break distance barriers to enable first time entrepreneurs, MSME sector professionals and home-based chocolatiers/bakers to participate from the comfort of home or office.
It will enable participants to make locally using local ingredients, reduce our reliance on imports of chocolates and make the most productive use of time available on hand this lockdown period.
L Nitin Chordia, founder of Cocoashala, said, "This is the first time a live three-day professional bean to bar chocolate making programme is being administered anywhere in the world.”
The company will ship a full kit of ingredients and equipment (including measuring spoons) of Indian origin and will enable the participant to touch and feel, follow and practice exactly what we are demonstrating in a live and interactive setting.
This initiative would support the Indian economy as all the ingredients and equipment supplied are of Indian origin and would further help us become self-reliant on local Indian products.
This programme is restricted to participants from India.
The format has been conceptualised at the company's Chennai base on several requests over the last few years and also requests from participants who had enrolled to the signature and popular traditional four-day bean to bar programme for the months of April, May and June in advance.
The signature four-day format also includes a cocoa farm visit.
"We shall now visit the cocoa farm virtually while the participants will make chocolate by themselves. We will miss the fun of travelling together to the cocoa farm and enjoying the cocoa fruit. The trade-off is that participants save on travel related carbon emissions and other costs, will be able to make best use of the lockdown period and participants from across India can join the programme,” said Chordia.
"Cocoashala has helped several entrepreneurs and chocolate brands in the bean to bar chocolate making space in India and overseas over the past five years and we are determined to continue this effort in the new normal scenario with this no contact education offering,” he added.
The delivery format of the programme is similar to our offline format with some module changes and prework done to accommodate a live delivery.
The participant has to register at least seven working days in advance so that the full kit can reach him/her.
The first live session is scheduled for June 16-18, 2020. Price for the course is Rs 64,000 plus 18 per cent GST.
"We expect this format to propel the sun rise bean to bar chocolate industry and continue to contribute significantly to the changing bean to bar chocolate landscape in India,” said Chordia.
The company plans to continue this format and host one such session each month.