The International Institute of Chocolate and Cacao Tasting

06/09/2026

Languages: Fully taught in both English and French.

À qui s’adresse cette formation? Il n’y a aucune condition d’admission! Elle est parfaitement adaptée:
-aux professionnels des secteurs de la restauration, de la pâtisserie et de la chocolaterie haut de gamme;
-à toute personne souhaitant créer sa propre entreprise de chocolaterie haut de gamme;
-aux passionnés de chocolat à la recherche d’une expérience intensive exceptionnelle.

Dates: du jeudi 8 octobre au dimanche 11 octobre 2026 (de 10 h à 17 h 30 tous les jours)
Langues: cours dispensés intégralement en anglais et en français.

Ce qui est inclus:
-Déjeuners fournis tous les jours.
-Tous les échantillons de chocolat et les échantillons sensoriels nécessaires au déroulement de l’atelier.
-Des guides d’étude à emporter.
-Les frais d’inscription de 50 £ auprès de l’organisme de certification britannique FDQ, ainsi que les certificats délivrés en cas de réussite aux examens.

Les places sont limitées! Inscrivez-vous dès maintenant pour réserver votre place. (Vous trouverez un lien séparé pour les différents niveaux sur notre site web)

Prêt à former votre palais? Rejoignez l’IICCT dans sa toute nouvelle école à Strasbourg, en France, pour une formation intensive combinée menant aux certificats de niveau 1 et niveau 2 en dégustation de chocolat!

Au cours de cet atelier intensif de 4 jours en présentiel, vous vous lancerez dans un incroyable voyage sensoriel et pédagogique:
Entraînez vos sens: dégustez plus de 34 tablettes et échantillons de chocolat noir haut de gamme, issus de différentes origines ou de mélanges, afin de maîtriser l’arôme, la texture, la longueur en bouche et le profil gustatif.
Approfondissez vos connaissances sur le cacao: découvrez les variétés de cacao, l’économie de la culture, l’histoire du chocolat, la chaîne de production du chocolat et l’approvisionnement direct et durable.
Profilage avancé: apprenez à utiliser le système en ligne spécialisé de profilage du chocolat de l’Institut (des tablettes seront mises à votre disposition si vous ne disposez pas de votre propre appareil).
Obtenez des certifications officielles.

04/09/2026

Master the Art of Cacao Flavor Evaluation!

Ever wondered how to determine the true flavor quality of fine cacao?
Our Cacao Flavor Evaluation course is designed to give you an in depth sensory understanding of how cacao flavor transforms into chocolate flavor.

How to Taste & Profile:
Sensory Training: Develop your palate using the IICCT flavor profile system and learn the brain science behind cacao tasting.
Technical Evaluation: Master techniques, including your own cut tests, quality evaluation, and calculating flavor counts.
Quality Scoring: Learn to identify enjoyable flavor notes versus technical defects to generate a comprehensive quality score.
From Bean to Bar: Understand how cacao’s flavor potential transforms during production into finished fine chocolate.

What’s Inside Your Tasting Kit?
📦 We ship a comprehensive home-study kit directly to you (around 40 samples included!) to provide a broad knowledge of the cacao world:
Diverse Origins: Samples of different cacaos to explore a global range of cacao.
Roasting: Compare different roasting levels to explore how they alter the final flavor.
Identifying Defects: Includes examples of common cacao defects so you can learn to spot flavor quality issues in cacao.
Sensory Tools: Reference samples for aromas and tongue tastes, plus a poster version of the IICCT flavor profile map and use of the IICCT online system.

Whether you are a chocolate maker, a taster, or a cacao enthusiast, this course provides you with the tools you need to understand cacao flavor.

🗓️ Course Dates: 9 Oct – 25 Nov 2026 (Online) 🔗 Book your spot on our website

03/09/2026

Registration Deadline: 6 September, 2026

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.

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.

Shipping is included within the EU, UK, Switzerland, and Norway.

01/09/2026

26/08/2026

Explore this classic cacao origin at home with our online study course and receive a tasting kit of top craft chocolate made with Madagascan beans.

To be a fully rounded Chocolate Taster you must understand the history, culture, varieties, farming and production in each of the main regions in the world producing fine cacao. This course is a great way to extend your knowledge and understanding of craft chocolate.

Madagascar is a classic origin and was the first named country origin you could buy as a single origin bar. Madagascar is especially interesting because of its early 19th century Swiss and German cacao introductions and very little of the 20th century Upper Amazon clones, so the mix is more like Caribbean cacao, but with the unique citrus, orange, raspberry notes that are the signature of Madagascan cacao and chocolate.

What’s waiting for you:
-Tasting Kit shipped to your door (featuring 15 craft chocolate samples)
-3 live webinars + a recorded varieties lecture
-Certificate after passing written and blind tasting exams

Secure your spot via the link in bio!

16/08/2026

Registration Deadline: 6 September, 2026
Visit our website to discover our Level 1 and Level 2 courses in chocolate tasting, available also separately.

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.

07/08/2026

Ready to dive into the world of craft chocolate?
No experience needed! Just passion for chocolate. Whether you’re prepping for Level 1 or just want to understand your favorite treat better, this is your starting point.
Price: €75 Link in BIO to reserve your spot!

What you’ll learn:
How to taste chocolate using all your senses.
The journey from bean to bar and the basic principles of how chocolate is made.
How to store and buy the best craft chocolate, what to look for, and how to keep it in the best condition.
The definition of ‘fine chocolate’ and where ‘fine’ or ‘craft’ chocolate fits in the global chocolate market.
Clear explanations of key terminology, such as tempering, couverture, moulding, ‘snap’ and cocoa butter.
Essential core concepts and basics for anyone new to the craft chocolate world.

05/08/2026

This video presents an excerpt from our interview with recorded during
The complete interview will be published in the coming days. Stay tuned for the full conversation.

08/07/2026

Here’s our online course program for this autumn.

You can sign up and find more details about each course on our website.
Stay tuned—we’ll be announcing even more online courses later in the year!

We can’t wait to meet you online and taste some great chocolate together!

02/07/2026

O curso será ministrado em inglês, com tradução para o português.

Associação Bean to Bar Brasil apresenta um programa completo para quem deseja desenvolver competências para avaliar chocolates artesanal de forma estruturada e profissional.
O que você vai encontrar:
Nível 1 – Fundamentos: Estabelece a base sensorial para sua jornada como degustador, introduzindo conceitos de chocolates bean to bar. Inclui a avaliação de 9 ou mais barras de chocolate intenso fino.
Nível 2 – Aperfeiçoamento: Explora o universo dos chocolates artesanal com maior profundidade, analisando estilos de fabricantes e toda a cadeia produtiva. São degustadas mais de 25 barras e amostras de chocolate.
Certificação Combinada: Para quem deseja realizar ambos os níveis e obter as duas certificações ao final do processo.

Para quem é este curso?
Quem ama chocolate e quer descobrir o quão apurado é o seu paladar.
Fabricantes, educadores e profissionais de gastronomia ou confeitaria.
Quem deseja lançar um negócio de chocolates artesanal.

Informações Importantes:
Data: 17 a 20 de agosto de 2026.
Local: Senai Alimentos (Barra Funda), São Paulo - SP.
*Inscrições: Até 16/08/2026 via Sympla (parcelamento em até 12x).*
O que está incluído: Treinamento dos sentidos, apostila de estudos, todos os chocolates necessários para as aulas e certificado para os aprovados nos exames.

The course will be taught in English with translation in Portuguese.
The combined course takes you directly through to Intermediate level in a concentrated four day workshop course.

What’s Included:
Training the chocolate senses.
Cacao production, quality and flaws.
Tasting practice and profiling with our online system.
Take away study guides and certificate for exam passes.

Who should take this course?
Professionals in the catering, pastry, or fine chocolate industries.
Anyone considering launching a fine chocolate business.
The ultimate gift for the chocolate fanatic in your life.

Details:
Schedule: 4 days (Mon - Thu), 10:00am - 5:30pm.
Location: Senai Barra Funda, São Paulo, Brazil.

Sign up on our website and check there more details.