The Man Revolutionising Ghanaian Cacao: A Chocolate Tasting with Leslie Agyare

About the event

Ever wondered what it’s like to actually grow and harvest cacao? Hear straight from the source with Leslie Agyare, founder of Three Mountains Cocoa, as he shares first-hand stories from life on the farm. Joined by Spencer Hyman, Leslie will talk about his own journey into cacao alongside Ghana’s wider role in the cacao world: its history, present, and future. The session will also feature a guided chocolate tasting of Three Mountains Ghanian cacao, highlighting how different makers interpret and present the same beans. Along the way, Leslie and Spencer will discuss some of the challenges and controversies in Ghanian cacao from sky-rocketing prices and smuggling, to deforestation and child labour and how Three Mountains Cocoa is pioneering new approaches to address these issues.

The tasting will run from 14:30-15:15 on Saturday 11th October, 2025 at the Fidelio Cafe, Farringdon and this ticket also includes free entry to the Craft Chocolate Fair before the tasting from 14:00.

About Leslie Agyare

Leslie Agyare founded Three Mountains Cocoa after a search for a simple dairy-free hot chocolate in England unexpectedly led him back to his family roots in Ghana. Immersing himself in the cocoa-growing communities of the Asante Region, Leslie was inspired by both the farmers and the land. In 2020, he established Three Mountains Cacao and co-created its Organic Cooperative Union, working alongside local communities to build a sustainable future for cocoa. He also supplies beans to many of the craft chocolate makers we work with at Cocoa Runners, some of whom will be at the fair!

About Spencer Hyman

Spencer Hyman is a craft chocolate expert and the co-founder and director of Cocoa Runners. Spencer hosts chocolate tastings and education courses around the world, judges for international chocolate awards, and he often appears on TV, media and at conferences, including Sunday Brunch, World Cocoa Conference, Great Taste Awards, Society of Flavourists, International Wine Challenge, Barista Connect, Academy of Chocolate and more. For anything from the history of chocolate to the science of taste and flavour, Spencer is always on the hunt for new insights and expertise; he is always on the look out for great new craft chocolate makers and farmers, exploring how cocoa is grown and crafted — and understanding more about flavour, and how craft chocolate pairs with other great craft experiences like wine and coffee.

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.
• 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 exit the building and join the second queue outside the building on the right hand side. Make sure you leave time before the event to explore the craft chocolate market upstairs and meet makers from across the UK and beyond.
• For any questions, please email [email protected]

About the Cocoa Runners Craft Chocolate Fair 2025

For the third year running, Cocoa Runners are hosting their ever-popular Craft Chocolate Fair on the 11th and 12th October, 2025. Meet craft chocolate makers from across the UK and beyond at the indoor market, and join a series of talks, tastings and experiences in our beautiful tasting room. The events will take place at the Fidelio Cafe and Concert Venue in Farringdon, London from 10am-5pm.

Following the success of the past two Craft Chocolate Fairs and previous sold-out events at Canopy Market, this year’s Fair will see even more bean-to-bar chocolate makers bringing their chocolate to London, including Chocolarder, Friis Holm, Pump Street, Choco Del Sol, Bare Bones, Neary Nogs, Fjak and more.

Ticketed talks and tastings will take place across both days. Due to the popularity of previous years, we’ve now introduced free, pre-bookable tickets; they will guarantee you entry to the fair during your time slot without queuing.