Above: sorting cocoa beans in Grenada (Photo: Grenada Chocolate Company)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Grenada’s profile in the chocolate industry has grown in recent years, thanks in large part to the Grenada Chocolate Company, which was founded in 1999.

Now the world-renowned flavours of Grenadian chocolate and cocoa will be celebrated on the island, thanks to the first-ever Grenada Chocolate Fest.

The inaugural event will take place from Aug. 18 to Aug. 24, including tours of cocoa plantations, workshops, art gallery displays and bazaars with local vendors.

It will, more importantly, include tasting and sampling of cocoa-derived products, from cocoa tea and truffles to cocoa butter.

The event is being organized by the True Blue Bay Boutique Resort, in collaboration with Mount Cinnamon, Belmont Estate, the Grenada Chocolate Company and Art & Soul.

Grenada’s chocolate industry recently received a boost when the new Diamond Chocolate Factory opened in St Mark’s.

The factory is the result of a partnership between LA Burdick chocolate, the Grenada Cocoa Association, USAID and the country’s government.