The International Institute of Chocolate and Cacao Tasting

Take your chocolate expertise to the next level in the home of Chuncho cacao.

The Cusco edition of Level 3 is tailored for those with a sense of adventure and a curiosity to explore the cutting edge chocolate makers and cacao producers at the center of the Chuncho cacao phenomenon.

Starting in Lima at the Salon de Cacao y Chocolate, we will arrive briefly in the highland city of Cusco. We then cross the Andes on the way to Upper Amazon Chuncho cacao farms dotted around the Urubamba valley cloud forest and visit world-leading craft chocolate makers in Quillabamba.

This immersive 5.5-day program covers:
Travel: Starting in Lima, we fly to Cusco, explore the Chuncho region.
Cacao visits: Chocolate maker farms, visit indigenous cooperatives, field research stations, fermentation and drying centers.
Factory visits: Go behind the scenes at leading Chuncho chocolate factories.
Group project: Work with your fellow students to create a cultural branding project for Chuncho cacao and chocolate

What’s Included:
✅ Special Level 3 chocolate study bars
✅ On the move tastings and experiences
✅ Learning about the flavors and culture of Chuncho cacao
✅ All transport during the trip (excluding arriving in and leaving Lima)
✅ Hotel accommodation during the field trip
✅ Most meals, including networking and farewell dinners

Requirement: Pass in Level 1 & 2 Certificates. Language: The course is taught in English and Spanish.

Secure your place with a deposit, limited places available!

Chuncho Cacao Journey: From Classroom to Cloud Forest.

Step into the heart of Peru’s ancient cacao heritage with the International Institute of Chocolate & Cacao Tasting (IICCT).
This July, we invite you to master the secrets of Chuncho cacao—a rare, ancestral variety now reclaiming its title as one of the world’s most extraordinary cacao.

Choose your path or join us for both:
🗓️17 July 2026, Lima, Origin Introduction (The Foundation)-Classroom Study, kick off your journey with an intensive, sensory-focused deep dive into the history, genetics, and culture of Chuncho.
💻Highlights: Guided tasting of 15+ craft chocolate bars, understanding terroir, and mastering defect identification.

🗓️19-25 July 2026, Cusco, Origin Field Study (The Immersion). You will be joining the Level 3 group as a parallel course.
Expedition take your learning from the classroom directly into the mountain valleys and tropical forests. This is a rare opportunity to follow the flavor of cacao from the living fruit on the tree to the finished chocolate bar.
🏞️Highlights: Exclusive access to leading cacao farms and cooperatives, in-depth study of post-harvest fermentation, and advanced sensorial profiling in the field.

Why join us?
Whether you are a certified taster, a chocolate maker, or an educator, these courses offer professional accreditation and a scientific understanding of how origin defines flavor.
We strongly encourage attending the Lima Introduction before embarking on the Field Study to build a solid theoretical base.

📍 Special event: On Saturday, 18 July, early evening, El Concurso Nacional de Chocolate Peruano will be held for the eleventh time in Peru, under the auspices of the with the aim of promoting the emerging fine chocolate industry and fine cacao production in Peru. As one of the activities of the 2026
You’re all warmly invited to join us for this special moment.

Ready to elevate your expertise at the source? 🇵🇪
🔗 [Link in Bio to explore the full programs and book your spot]

Sign up now for this journey of taste into the Upper Amazon cloud forest.

Once an almost forgotten cacao, Chuncho is now winning global awards for its complex and unique flavor profiles. Join Origin Introduction for a unique chance to sample bars made from chocolate makers in Peru and from outside.

What’s included:
Tasting Kit: Delivered to your door with 15+ craft chocolate bars, reference samples, and sealed bars for your final blind tasting exam.
Interactive Learning: 4 webinars covering history, genetics, and culture, plus a dedicated varieties lecture.
Expert Certification: Learn the IICCT flavor profiling system and test your skills with a multiple-choice and blind tasting exam.

Whether you are a chocolate maker, an educator, or a certified taster looking to deepen your expertise, this course offers an inside look at the new processes and flavors emerging from Peru’s leading craft chocolate scene.

We are excited to be part of

Come and visit us at Stand 70 from May 1st to May 3rd.
We look forward to welcoming you and sharing our latest courses.
We are especially eager to see our dear Alumni and reconnect with everyone from the community!

📍 Special event: On Saturday, May 2nd, from 16:00 to 19:00, we will host the European Ceremony of the , which will take place in the festival conference room, in front of a live audience and streamed online.

You’re all warmly invited to join us for this special moment.

See you at

Registration Deadline: April 30, 2026
Last chance to join our online courses before the summer break. The next online session will start in September, while in-person courses will continue in various locations around the world.

Combined Level 1 & Level 2 Certificate in Chocolate Tasting
An intensive program created by the IICCT, designed to take you from the basics of chocolate tasting to a more confident, structured way of analyzing flavor.

Level 1: A friendly introduction to tasting chocolate. You’ll learn how to identify and describe flavors while tasting examples of fine dark chocolate bars from different origins and craft chocolate makers. We’ll explore aroma, texture, taste, and finish—helping you build a solid foundation.

Level 2: A deeper dive into the world of fine chocolate. You’ll discover how different chocolate makers work—from small craft producers to larger-scale manufacturers—and how each step in the process influences flavor. We’ll also cover common cacao defects, the journey from bean to bar, and how chocolate has evolved over time.

You’ll use the Institute’s online chocolate profiling system to record and compare your tastings, helping you build a more objective and consistent approach.

Level 1: short multiple-choice test
Level 2: theory exam + a 30-minute blind tasting

You’ll receive a professional tasting kit with over 34 chocolate samples. Shipping is included within the EU, UK, Switzerland, and Norway.

Take your tasting skills to the next level,
This certification is ideal for chefs, pastry professionals, chocolate makers, and anyone looking to develop or validate their sensory skills in a practical, professional way.

Master the science of flavor. Elevate your professional profile.

The IICCT Certificate in Chocolate Tasting courses are coming to Taiwan again in 2026, with the Monica Meschini IICCT school.

On 3-4 and 6-8 June, we will run Level 1 and Level 2 at Fuwan Chocolate Café in Taipei. The courses will be taught in English with Mandarin translation.

From 8 to 15 June, we will hold Level 3, our advanced Chocolate Tasting course. We will be based at Fuwan Resort in Pingtung, and we will also visit cacao, tea, and coffee plantations, asian markets, chocolate and pastry shops and taste some truly special and unique foods.

This experience will be taught in English, Italian and Spanish, and it is also open to those who have already taken Level 3 but wish to enjoy the sensory journey without sitting the exam.

For more information and registration, email [email protected].

Ready to become a certified chocolate taster?
Join us in the heart of Vienna from May 28-31, 2026, for an intensive 4-day journey into the world of fine chocolate, including a visit to .at chocolate maker!

Our Combined Level 1 & Level 2 Certificate in Chocolate Tasting takes you from the basics of sensory exploration to the deep complexities of origin chocolate and professional flavor profiling.
On Friday 29 May, we will visit the chocolate factory of .at, close to Vienna. .at operate with a deep appreciation for organic and sustainable ingredients and are a multiple award winner at the

Level 1: A deep dive into the sensorial approach to tasting, featuring 9+ different origin or blended fine dark chocolate bars.
Level 2: An in-depth exploration of the chocolate production chain, history, and market. You will taste and profile over 30 chocolate bars and samples.
Expert Tools: Learn to use the Institute’s official online chocolate profiling system.
Accreditation: Opportunity to earn an official UK Government (Ofqual) approved certificate for Level 1 and an IICCT certificate for Level 2.

Who is this for?
Whether you are a professional in the pastry or catering industry, an aspiring chocolate entrepreneur, or simply the ultimate chocolate fan, this course is the perfect start to your professional tasting journey.

Location: Mitt Vienna, Central Vienna
Language: Taught in English (with German and Hungarian translation support if needed)
Included: Lunch, all chocolate samples, and take-away study guides

Spaces are limited! Reserve your spot now and take your first step toward a professional level in chocolate tasting.

** PLACES STILL AVAILABLE **

Take your Chocolate Tasting journey a step further with an intensive and immersive exploration of South Indian cacao, chocolate and local culinary culture to expand your flavour archetype horizons.

This Indian Level 3 course will give you a comprehensive “total absorption” approach to the world of fine chocolate, including:
- bean-to-bar chocolate training at the KocoaTrait lab, where you’ll make your own chocolate during the course
- visits some of the most important Indian cacao producers, including GoGround in Kerala, with a focus on the influence of fermentation and origin flavor
- enhance your flavor archetype skills with intense sensory immersion
- visit multiple chocolate factories, including Bon Fiction and Paul & Mike
- sensory extras with spice production and traditional meals

Beyond the training, this journey includes a unique cultural immersion into the South Indian culinary scene—from spice production visits to traditional meal experiences—expanding our palate’s reference points.
The program culminates in the Level 3 rigourous blind tasting examination and a “build a brand” assessed group project.

Sign up soon for a unique flavor experience.