Classes and Events
Introduction to Fine Chocolate Tasting
Join Exe Chocolate founder and chief chocolate maker Nicola on a delicious and informative journey through the basics of what is fine chocolate and the sensory elements used in chocolate tasting.
In the class Nicola will take you on a guided tour of how chocolate is grown and made (from tree to bar), and you will taste 5 or more different origin fine dark chocolate bars from around the chocolate globe.
An idea of what we will discuss:
What is fine chocolate?
How the cacao is produced, and how chocolate is made.
Taste and profile fine chocolate using each of our five senses.
Begin to develop a chocolate tasting vocabulary.
Background information about each of the chocolate makers.
Ticket price includes all samples for the tasting, and 1 Exe Chocolate mini bar to take home.
Drinks must be purchased separately.
Tickets: £25.00 per person
Bean-to-bar chocolate making: Learn how you can craft chocolate from scratch at home - ONLINE CLASS
In this comprehensive online chocolate making course for beginners, you'll learn how to make your own incredible bean-to-bar chocolate right in the comfort of your own kitchen.
Led by Nicola (chocolate maker, teacher of 17 years and tutor with the International Institute of Chocolate and Cacao Tasting), you'll begin by exploring the history of chocolate and its cultural significance, followed by an introduction into cocoa beans and their origins, before discovering how they’re transformed into the chocolate we all know and love. From there, you'll move on to the practical skills you'll need to make your own chocolate, including roasting, cracking, winnowing, and grinding cocoa beans, refining chocolate, and tempering.
Along the way, you'll learn about the various types of chocolate, the role of different ingredients and equipment, and best practices for achieving the perfect flavour and texture.
This course is perfect for you if you are a chocolate enthusiast who wants to learn more about chocolate and find out how you can create bean-to-bar treats for your family and friends. It will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to create the chocolate, and be able to customise it to your own tastes and preferences.
The detailed schedule and course handbook will be sent to you after booking, along with a list of all recommended resources and equipment to get started on your chocolate making adventure.
-
This course is taught as two live Zoom webinars. Recordings will be available to view after the live sessions.
Instructions for joining will be emailed to you shortly before the course begins.
-
Module 1 - June 1st 2024, 6pm BST
Module 2 - June 2nd 2024, 11am BST
-
The course fee is £210 GBP, which includes:
Two live webinars and the recordings to watch at your leisure.
A course handbook detailing the materials and equipment you’ll need to get started, and notes from the lessons.
Lifetime access to the course Telegram group, for asking questions and communicating with your classmates.
“Nicola breaks each process down into a simple chunk of information, which makes it easy to follow. Not giving too many different options for each process was also good for a beginner (me!) - I made my very first batch straight after attending her course and it was a success!”
“As a chocolate taster, I really enjoyed learning hands on skills to make chocolate myself. The course was practical, and support is provided to get you started on your chocolate making journey.”
Father's Day Fine Chocolate Tasting
Are you looking for something different for Dad this Father’s Day? Can’t bring yourself to buy another pair of socks? Why not gift him a chocolate tasting experience instead! Perfect for dad’s who are chocolate mad, or love fine wines, coffee, or exploring new flavours.
Join Exe Chocolate founder and chief chocolate maker Nicola on a delicious and informative journey through the basics of what is fine chocolate and the sensory elements used in chocolate tasting.
In the class Nicola will take you on a guided tour of how chocolate is grown and made (from tree to bar), and you will taste 5 or more different origin fine dark chocolate bars from around the chocolate globe.
An idea of what we will discuss:
What is fine chocolate?
How the cacao is produced, and how chocolate is made.
Taste and profile fine chocolate using each of our five senses.
Begin to develop a chocolate tasting vocabulary.
Background information about each of the chocolate makers.
Ticket price includes all samples for the tasting, and 1 Exe Chocolate mini bar to take home and a drink from the Greendale bar/cafe.
Tickets £30pp, available from Greendale Farm directly (I’ll post the link once sales are active).
Easy Chocolate Tempering: ONLINE CLASS
In this one hour online lesson you will learn 3 simple techniques to perfectly temper chocolate at home with minimal equipment. I will talk you through, and demonstrate the stages to get a perfect shine and snap every time.
We will explore microwave tempering, tempering with seed and making your own cocoa butter silk.
Tickets: £39 per person
Valentine’s Chocolate Making! IN PERSON
Come along to the Boatyard Bakery to learn how to craft your very own batch of single-origin chocolate, starting from selecting your cocoa beans through roasting, winnowing and grinding to moulding up and decorating your own bars with a range of Valentine’s inspired inclusions.
I will guide you through the process, while explaining the science behind chocolate making, and we will be tasting and exploring ingredients as we go. You'll go home with your own chocolate bars to share with friends and family!
This is an exclusive event with only 4 spaces as it’s a very tiny chocolate factory! The session is perfect for couples. If you would like to book a private session please send me a message through the contact page.
You will also receive a 10% discount on any Exe Chocolate products purchased at the event.
Tickets: £75 per person
Chocolate Making! IN PERSON
Come along to the Boatyard Bakery to learn how to craft your very own batch of single-origin chocolate, starting from selecting your cocoa beans through roasting, winnowing and grinding to moulding up and decorating your own bars with a range of winter inspired inclusions.
I will guide you through the process, while explaining the science behind chocolate making, and we will be tasting and exploring ingredients as we go. You'll go home with your own chocolate bars to share with friends and family!
This is an exclusive event with only 4 spaces as it’s a very tiny chocolate factory! The session is perfect for couples or family groups. If you would like to book a private session please send me a message through the contact page.
You will also receive a 10% discount on any Exe Chocolate products purchased at the event.
Tickets: £75 per person
Easy Chocolate Tempering: ONLINE CLASS
In this one hour online lesson you will learn 3 simple techniques to perfectly temper chocolate at home with minimal equipment. I will talk you through, and demonstrate the stages to get a perfect shine and snap every time.
We will explore microwave tempering, tempering with seed and making your own cocoa butter silk.
Tickets: £39 per person
Bean-to-bar chocolate making: Learn how you can craft chocolate from scratch at home - ONLINE CLASS
In this comprehensive online chocolate making course for beginners, you'll learn how to make your own incredible bean-to-bar chocolate right in the comfort of your own kitchen.
Led by Nicola (chocolate maker, teacher of 17 years and tutor with the International Institute of Chocolate and Cacao Tasting), you'll begin by exploring the history of chocolate and its cultural significance, followed by an introduction into cocoa beans and their origins, before discovering how they’re transformed into the chocolate we all know and love. From there, you'll move on to the practical skills you'll need to make your own chocolate, including roasting, cracking, winnowing, and grinding cocoa beans, refining chocolate, and tempering.
Along the way, you'll learn about the various types of chocolate, the role of different ingredients and equipment, and best practices for achieving the perfect flavour and texture.
This course is perfect for you if you are a chocolate enthusiast who wants to learn more about chocolate and find out how you can create bean-to-bar treats for your family and friends. It will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to create the chocolate, and be able to customise it to your own tastes and preferences.
The detailed schedule and course handbook will be sent to you after booking, along with a list of all recommended resources and equipment to get started on your chocolate making adventure.
-
This course is taught as a series of three live Zoom webinars. Recordings will be available to view after the live sessions.
Instructions for joining will be emailed to you shortly before the course begins.
-
Module 1 - Oct 13th, 7pm BST
Module 2 - Oct 14th, 6pm BST
Module 3 - Oct 15th, 10am BST
-
The course fee is £239 GBP, which includes:
Three live webinars and the recordings to watch at your leisure.
A course handbook detailing the materials and equipment you’ll need to get started, and notes from the lessons.
Lifetime access to the course Telegram group, for asking questions and communicating with your classmates.
“Nicola breaks each process down into a simple chunk of information, which makes it easy to follow. Not giving too many different options for each process was also good for a beginner (me!) - I made my very first batch straight after attending her course and it was a success!”
Exeter Chocolate Tasters Club
Come and join Nicola Knight (Exe Chocolate maker, certified chocolate taster and tutor) and other local chocolate enthusiasts at the tiny chocolate factory (housed at the Boatyard Bakery on Exeter quay) on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm.
Sessions can be booked on a pay-as-you-go basis (if spaces are available). The fee of £7.50 is to cover the cost of the chocolate that we will be tasting.
You will also receive a 10% discount on any chocolate purchases made at the event.
September’s theme is: The Taste of Autumn!
Come along to taste and learn about craft chocolate with Autumnal inclusions and flavours.
Also you will be the first to taste my new bar before I launch it in October!
Tickets: £7.50 per person