Virtual Tasting Experiences

Pencil one of our virtual tasting experiences into your schedule for expert-lead insight into the wonderful world of craft chocolate. With one of our cocoa-experts, you will be guided through the tasting process, enabling you to unlock a world of flavour through savouring some of our favourite bars. Whilst you take a moment to savour our chocolate, we’ll talk you through the growing and making processes, so that you learn the stories behind the beans.

And if you’d prefer to learn more about the environmental factors underlying craft chocolate, or about how to fully appreciate the flavour profiles of chocolate, then come to one of our specialised tastings for a deep dive into whatever cocoa-related subject you’re most passionate about!

See below for a selection of tasting experiences to try – all from the comfort of your own home!

Welcome to the Craft Chocolate Revolution

Allow us to welcome you to the chocolate revolution with intro to the wonderful world of craft chocolate that’ll be guaranteed to leave you wanting more! We will guide you through the history of chocolate as well as the growing and making processes which make craft chocolate so unique both in flavour and the impact it has on the world.

Get Started

Chocolate & Wine with Corney and Barrow

Chocolate and wine: a match made in heaven. Come along to one of our special tastings where we’ll introduce you to some craft chocolates and wonderful wines with Corney and Barrow as our resident wine experts. This is a great opportunity to kick back and luxuriate in the wondrous flavour pairings of chocolate and wine.

Indulge Me

Deep Dive: Taste & Flavour

Dive in to our brand new virtual tasting which will delve into the science of taste and flavour, investigating how craft chocolate achieved it’s unique and complex flavour profile.

Join us every other Thursday (from the 14th of October) at 8pm to learn more about the science behind taste and flavour – and to enjoy some delicious craft chocolate.

Savour

Figgy Pudding with Tapper’s Gin

In anticipation of the festive season, we’ve planned an event with Tapper’s Gin whereby we’ll make a delicious figgy pudding to add a little warmth to your Winter and get you ready for the fast-approaching Christmas period! The kit is available to buy now but it won’t be shipped until the end of October, nearer to when the event will take place.

Get Figgy

Whisky and Chocolate

Try something new and different by exploring the new worlds of flavour opened up by pairing chocolate with whisky… Our new tastings will be available to pre-order from October.

Take a Sip

Chocolate Deep Dives

Take this opportunity to become a pro-surfer of the flavour wave, or learn more about the environmental factors underpinning the craft chocolate revolution with our specialist tastings! Our taste and flavour kit is available to buy and our first tasting will take place on the 14th of October.

Dive In

Corporate and Private Tastings

If you’re looking for something bespoke and intimate, as a special treat for friends and family or for your staff/clients, you can check out our private tasting events.

Enquire Now

Recordings of Previous Tastings

Want to get a flavour for our previous tastings? Take a look at some recordings of our previous tastings here.

Sneak a Peek

Gift a Virtual Tasting

Have a friend, family member, or partner who loves chocolate (almost as much as they love you)? Gift them a unique – and delicious – experience with one of our virtual tastings.

Gift Them

Testimonials:

“A really fun and informative tasting with a host whose passion and excitement about craft chocolate was infectious.“

Nick, London

“It was a superb event and has had a lasting and positive impact. Now I have been waxing lyrical to everyone I know about the issues around sustainability in the industry“.

Sarah, London

“The online tasting is brilliantly done. Fun, fascinating and delicious. I learnt more about chocolate in an hour than I’d found out in a lifetime.“

Carlie, Newcastle

“Thanks so much for last night, we really enjoyed the session and it was a great mix of information and munching!“.

Florence, Cambridge

“It was really fun to learn some more about chocolate and its origins. I also appreciated the discussion about farmer’s wages and what companies are doing to help improve the situation, it’s not something that I expected to learn about today. The quiz was good too!“.

Harvey, London

Meet Your Hosts:

Spencer Hyman: Founder of Cocoa Runners

Spencer is an e-commerce veteran whose varied career highlights include translating Monopoly into Japanese, being COO of popular music site Last.FM and setting up parts of Amazon in the UK. He founded Cocoa Runners back in 2013 and has since expanded both his knowledge of and passion for craft chocolate. The growing and making processes of craft chocolate – and how they evoke such unique flavours – is what interests Spencer most.

Nick Saxby – Content and Communication Manager at Cocoa Runners

Nick Saxby has a lot of experience communicating and educating about the environment, both in the wild and in a classroom, and now in Cocoa Runners’ virtual tastings! Nick achieved his master’s degree in Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem Health, writing a dissertation on the use of cacao agroforestry for biodiversity conservation. Following his passion for craft chocolate, and the wider cocoa industry, he enjoys sharing the history, challenges and science behind the world’s best chocolate with people.

FAQs:

How can I arrange a virtual tasting?

Click on the tasting experience that interests you most from the above selection and, once you’re sold on whichever package you’d like, purchase the appropriate kit. Links and further details will then be sent to you so that you may attend the scheduled tasting event.

Can we choose the date for the tasting?

The dates available for different tastings vary. See our tastings calendar for a comprehensive list of tastings and when you can book them.

How long do virtual tastings last?

Sessions last for about an hour and half, including a quiz and Q&A at the end. Sessions can be a bit longer or a bit shorter depending on how interactive your group is.

Can we choose bars to go into the tasting?

We use a specifically curated collection of bars for our tasting sessions to best illustrate the world of craft chocolate. We don’t offer an option to edit these, but we’re confident that they will have everything you need for the best experience

Is there a delivery charge?

There is a shipping fee for each individual tasting kit. Deliveries within the UK are charged at £3.95 each and deliveries outside of the UK cost between £7.95 and £9.95 depending on location. All kits are sent via tracked delivery.

How can I get in touch?

Click here to ask any further questions.