Chocolate Making Workshop with Sarah Messina

Join us for a deliciously hands-on three-hour chocolate-making workshop with Sarah Messina, one of our wonderful Permaculture Matters facilitators. Discover the magic and complexity of chocolate from bean to bar, and create your own unique chocolate masterpiece to take home.

What to expect:

Warm welcome & icebreaker
We'll start by introducing ourselves and sharing something fun—like your favourite chocolate flavour—to set the mood.
A journey through chocolate’s rich history
Discover the ancient Mesoamerican roots of cacao and its fascinating journey through history.
Up close with cacao
Hold cacao beans and explore a printed image of a cacao pod as Sarah explains the life cycle of the cacao plant, from seedling to harvest and fermentation.
Hands-on chocolate making
Dive into the full bean-to-bar process:
- Roasting: Roast cacao beans over fire while learning specific techniques. Taste and compare roasted vs unroasted beans.
- Milling & winnowing: Crush the beans into nibs, then use a fan to separate shells from nibs.
- Second milling & grinding: Refine the nibs into finer granules, then grind them into rich chocolate liquor. Along the way, discover the cultural and spiritual significance of each step.
Tempering & pouring
Watch a demonstration of the 'silk' tempering method—adding grated cacao butter at just the right temperature to achieve glossy, snappable chocolate. Then pour your tempered chocolate into moulds and top it with your choice of beautiful dried flowers.
Take home your creation
Your handmade 108g chocolate bar (valued at $14) will be ready to take home and enjoy after a quick set in the freezer.

This workshop is designed to be interactive, informative, and lots of fun—perfect for anyone keen to explore the deeper story of chocolate while getting their hands deliciously dirty.

Children 10 years and over are welcome.