In this hands-on class, chocolate maker, winemaker and food anthropologist Sean Taylor will teach you the processes required to produce organic, single-origin dark chocolate straight from cacao beans at home! Following traditional chocolate-making techniques, while utilizing state-of-the-art equipment, you will design your own dark chocolate bars using cacao, sea salt, coffee nibs, spices (ginger, turmeric, cayenne pepper, and coconut will all be available), and other organic flavors. Along the way, Sean will dive into the science of chocolate, the art of chocolate making, and the cultural impact of the Cacao Plant from 2000 B.C. to now. You will have a chance to taste several different samples of single-origin chocolates, and you will receive a lesson on how to select and buy chocolate from a taste, health, environmental, and social perspective. Each student will leave with two dark chocolate bars and a small bag of cacao nibs.

Supplies Needed: None, but feel free to bring any additional spices from home that you would like to try out in your chocolate!

Instructor Bio: Bay Area local Sean Taylor began his journey into the chocolate world on an organic farm in the mountains of Costa Rica in 2013 after graduating with a degree in winemaking from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. After five years as a traveling winemaker (South Africa, Argentina, Australia) and part-time chocolate-making instructor, Sean returned home to the Bay Area. Sean has biked through the mountains of Ecuador and Peru in search of the world’s best Cacao. He holds a Master’s in the Anthropology of Food (SOAS, University of London) and is currently pursuing a PhD in Anthropology at UNC Chapel Hill (started 2022). His greatest passions are tree-to-bar chocolate making, sustainable agriculture, and all things California. Learn more about Sean and his work on his Instagram @Sean.Patrick.Taylor.

The rules / important stuff: We have a NO EXCEPTIONS 72 HOUR CANCELLATION policy – this includes cancellation, re-books, gift certificates, moving classes, etc. For more information on canceling a class, please read our cancellation policy. All classes are 21+. If any questions, please email us at info AT workshopsf DOT org.

ALL CLASSES TAKE PLACE AT WORKSHOP SF LOCATED AT 1310 HAIGHT STREET UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED ON THE TITLE AND LISTING.