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Mastering Chocolate Flavor
As a chocolate professional or chocolate lover, you probably taste chocolate all day, every day. Our 4 week Mastering Chocolate Flavor Program will give you the opportunity to focus on the intricacies of chocolate flavor, while helping you use chocolate more effectively in your professional or personal life. Understanding chocolate flavor and how to taste chocolate consciously will help you to create better and more interesting chocolate recipes. How do we teach chocolate making online?
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Next Program: September 8 - October 17, 2025
How to register for the Mastering Chocolate Flavor Program:
We have kept the registration fee as low as possible to account for the added cost of the book and the chocolate you'll need for the guided tasting exercises (see the program pre-requisites below for more details).
Pre-requisites:
If you don't have it already, you'll want to have a copy of our book Raising the Bar - The Future of Fine Chocolate before starting the program. We refer to different information in the book to help you with understanding cacao genetics and other information as it relates to what you are studying in the program. The book is available on Amazon in eBook and paperback form. You'll want to get the eBook or paperback as its our 3rd Edition with updates. eBook versions are also available at: iTunes, Nook Books,Kobo, and Copia.
You'll want to set aside a budget for chocolate bars for your tasting exercises. You'll need from 3 - 4 different chocolates for each tasting assignment and there are five tasting assignments in the program. Once you register for the program, you'll be given the supply list or just email us and we'll get that to you.
When you're ready to pay your registration fee of $225.00 please click here: STUDENT REGISTRATION
What Will I Learn?
In this program for professionals and committed aficionados, we'll increase your knowledge of:
- Chocolate tasting - exploring how flavor works and how we actually perceive food.
- Cacao trees - how chemistry and genetics produce specific hard-wired flavors.
- Cacao farmers - how terroir and processes on the farm impact flavor development.
- Chocolate makers - how specific manufacturing processes in the factory bring out the best flavors of each bean.
- Chocolatiers - how flavors and textures created through recipe development celebrate and enhance pure chocolate flavor.
Be prepared to put that knowledge to the test in a series of guided tasting exercises along the way. That's right, once you start to understand what makes chocolate flavor then the real work begins by tasting chocolate.
We encourage everyone in the program to work together on the optional tasting exercises and share their experiences. We encourage you to participate in the guided flavor discussions and even use our Learning Centre Live Chat function to taste and share your insights with each other in real time.
"Because you are a professional working in the chocolate industry, our goal in this program is to take your tasting skills to the next level by teaching you to taste chocolate consciously and better identify and understand the subtleties and nuances associated with chocolate flavor as they relate to recipe development. Whether you are a chocolatier or a chocolate maker, this interactive 100% online program will help you to use chocolate more effectively in your professional life." Pam Williams
"During this program we'll discuss the four basic concepts that will help you taste chocolate more consciously and knowledgeably: the origins of cacao and terroir as they impact chocolate flavor; how flavor works, both physiologically and in chocolate; the elements that contribute to the flavor of a chocolate and last but not least, how to consciously use your knowledge of taste and flavor to better understand your chocolate and the product you create from it." Rich Tango-Lowy
How our Mastering Chocolate Flavor Program works:
This program is all about tasting chocolate. Over a month, you will study chocolate flavor and taste many different types of chocolate. As you complete tastings, you'll share your experiences with your Flavor Coach and peers through our interactive, online Learning Centre!
At the end of the program, you will receive a digital Master of Chocolate Flavor Certificate.
Your Learning Experience
Richard Tango-Lowy, our Online Tutor and Flavor Coach
Dancing Lion Chocolate
Chocolatier Richard Tango-Lowy has been working with chocolate since 1996. Rich opened Dancing Lion Chocolate in Manchester, New Hampshire in 2007, where he sources small plantation and artisan chocolate for his bonbons and confections, each of which is made only one time. When he's not searching for new chocolate, you'll find Rich experimenting in the kitchen behind Dancing Lion's shop and cafe.
Rich says, "I've been actively tasting chocolate for at least 12 years. 'Actively tasting' means that I sit and mindfully, consciously explore a piece of chocolate with my eyes, ears, hands, nose, and mouth. No distractions, no thoughts, notebook before me, pen in hand. After years of tasting, my sense of "taste" has expanded and become much more sensitive; I've learned to 'taste'."
The lessons Ecole Chocolat has assembled here will not only guide you through the art of tasting, but will give you a solid base to understand what you're tasting and why. Different chocolates taste different for many reasons: genetics, environment, processing, and even your own mood."
When is the Mastering Chocolate Flavor Program offered during the year?
The Mastering Chocolate Flavor Program is offered each year starting in mid May - a less busy time in a chocolatier's or chocolate maker's production calendars.
How do we teach chocolate tasting online?
Click here for a more information about our learning experience.
Our school faculty
Click here to read more about our instructors and tutors.
What our graduates have to say
"The program sets students up to win – from the start and the instructional video to the assignments as learning experiences, rather than yes/no/tick-the-box assessments. Learning through doing is the optimum way to learn. Overall, this course met my expectations and I am grateful to you all for creating this learning opportunity."
Jessica, '24 Graduate
"Absolutely This was a great foundational review of where flavor originates in chocolate, and has given me a great framework around which to base continued chocolate tastings and evaluation. The focus on human biology for sensory analysis, and genetics in cacao varieties, all underpinned by links to scientific studies excellent. So too were Rich's own papers and analysis, as well as his process for tasting."
Tracy, '23 Graduate
"Yes, above and beyond. The online portal was very well organized and kept me on track, the readings were meaningful, the timeline kept me moving forward, and the direct feedback from Rich was very helpful and stimulated good thoughts."
Julianna, '23 Graduate
Chocolate aficionados and home chocolate artisans!
If you want to become an expert in chocolate flavor, but are not a professional, you are welcome in this program. You register for the program but only complete those assignments that interest you - everything is optional. There is no pressure. We suggest you don't miss participating in Assignment 1, 2 and 4 as they are a lot of fun to do! And you only buy the chocolate supplies indicated for the assignments you want to complete.
Cancellation policy
You can cancel from the Mastering Chocolate Flavor Program if you have not enrolled in the program in our Learning Centre. A refund of your tuition fee minus a 10% administration fee may take approximately 10 working days to process. Once you use the Enrollment Key (which is sent to you upon receipt of your registration) to enroll into the program Learning Centre, your registration fee becomes non-refundable.
Get reminders about upcoming classes! To receive program updates and news, click the link below.
Photography by Jessica Washburn, Bliss Chocolatier and Ecole Chocolat
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Contact Us
Email: info@ecolechocolat.com
Visits by appointment only:
505 Montgomery
San Francisco, CA U.S.
1-213-291-8309
Canadian or International
1666 West 2nd Ave
Vancouver, B.C. Canada
1-604-484-1872
Ecole Chocolat is a woman-owned and operated chocolate education organization. Founded by chocolatier, Pam Williams, we are the professional school of chocolate arts for both chocolatiers and chocolate makers. We also donate our time, leadership, expertise and funds to preserve the fine chocolate industry and save fine cacao.
