The Magic of Fermentation: Sourdough and Chocolate with David Wright – London Craft Chocolate Fair 2026

About the event

Both chocolate and sourdough rely on one very important (and, it may seem to some, mysterious) process – fermentation. From the cacao fermentation troughs in the Caribbean to the sourdough starter in your kitchen, this is the real key to quality and flavour in both bread and chocolate.

For this tasting, The Breaducator himself and Head Baker at Fink’s, David Wright, is bringing his expertise on sourdough and fermentation to the London Craft Chocolate Fair. Joining together with Spencer Hyman from Cocoa Runners, they will discuss the impact of fermentation on bread and chocolate, how the processes are controlled and what you can taste in the final product. Expect to taste a range of different chocolates and breads demonstrating the impact of fermentation on flavour.

This tasting is part of the London Craft Chocolate Fair 2026. See the full line-up of talks and tastings here. Your ticket will also grant you free access to the Chocolate Makers Market.

Important info:

• Tickets are non-refundable. If you purchase tickets but cannot make the event, please contact us and we’ll see what we can do.
• Please arrive five minutes before the event is due to start.
• The tasting will run for approximately 45 minutes.
• Attendees must be 18+ as alcohol will be served at some events. If you or your guest are under 18, please write to us beforehand to confirm if we can accommodate them at the tasting.
• If you have any dietary requirements or allergies, please let us know. We will do our best to provide alternatives where possible. Please note, we may not be able to cater for severe allergies, as many events will be taking place throughout the day in the space and we cannot guarantee there will be no cross-contamination. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us and we will do our very best to accommodate you.
• The tasting will take place downstairs in the main tasting room, as part of the Cocoa Runners Craft Chocolate Fair. To enter the tasting, please join the second queue outside the building on the right hand side, without entering the fair, and leave time after the event to explore the craft chocolate market upstairs and meet makers from across the UK and beyond.
• Your ticket will include entry to the Chocolate Makers Market (worth £5). When you book onto this tasting, we’ll send you a QR code for entry.
• You can find more information about the event and venue here.
• For any questions, please email [email protected]

About the London Craft Chocolate Fair 2026

For the fourth year running, Cocoa Runners are hosting their popular Craft Chocolate Fair on the 17th & 18th October 2026. The craft chocolate experts will host an indoor market with bean-to-bar chocolate makers from the UK and beyond, with a series of talks, tastings and pairings with experts from tea, coffee, olive oil, wine, beer and more.

The event will take place at the Fidelio Cafe and Concert Venue in Farringdon, London, running from 10-6 on Saturday 17th and 10-5 Sunday 18th. Free entry to the fair will be included in every tasting ticket. For those not attending a tasting, entry will cost £5.

About your hosts

Cocoa Runners

Cocoa Runners has the biggest library of craft chocolate bars in the world with over 100 makers and 1000 bars and craft chocolates. We source, taste, hand pick and import the world’s very best craft chocolate, guiding people on a journey from farm to bar that brings them closer to the processes and practices of change-making growers and makers. We host expert tasting sessions and have a chocolate subscription club to help people embark on their own craft chocolate adventures.

David Wright – The Breaducator 

David Wright is a baker, teacher and writer from Suffolk in the UK. He has worked for some brilliant bakeries such as Pump Street Bakery, The Dusty Knuckle Bakery, Lily Vanilli, Acre Bakery and now Fink’s. David has written for Sandwich Magazine, Eaten Magazine and collaborated on books such as DJ BBQ’s Fire Feasts & Camp Bestival at Home.

In March 2025, Breaking Bread was released by Aurum. It was also released on audiobook and e-book. This was David’s first solo project, which journalist and food writer, Olia Hercules described as “A brilliant, timely and important book, full of compassion.”

David teaches bakery classes at Pump Street Workshop.