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Episode 37 Overview
Believe it or not (I am having trouble believing it), we are approaching the 20th anniversary of the publication of Discover Chocolate.
Over the past months, I have been looking at how information about chocolate and cacao – from the farm to the factory to the table to tasting – is being conveyed on YouTube, TikTok, Reddit, and elsewhere. I have concluded that there is room for someone with my experience to engage on these topics in an accessible and entertaining way. I had a chance to rehearse my ideas at the Southwest Chocolate & Coffee Fest in Albuquerque in early April where I gave four Grand Tasting classes.
Format
I am currently in pre-production. I learned a lot from my experience at the SWCCF and have scrapped some of my original thoughts. Here is what I have so far, and what I am looking for, from PodSaveChocolate fans and ChocolateLife members, is more constructive feedback before I start final scripting and production.
- Discover Chocolate branding.
- YouTube #shorts format – 16:9 vertical, under three minutes, in a Discover Chocolate Shorts playlist on the PodSaveChocolate YouTube channel.
- Cross-posting on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
- Two broad topic categories – About (cacao/chocolate) and Reviews.
- Each short will cover one topic, from the About or Reviews category.
- For #shorts in the About category, I will provide at least one citation to a research paper, a formal authority, or other resource.
- For #shorts in the About category, I will provide a link to the maker’s website.
A Short List of Topics
- The origins of cacao.
- The varieties of cacao.
- The origins of chocolate.
- Are cocoa and cacao different things?
- What is sustainable cocoa?
- What is traceable cocoa?
- What is direct-trade cocoa?
- What does cacao content really mean?
- Is chocolate really and truly healthy?
- What about cadmium and lead?
- Is white chocolate really chocolate?
- How to taste chocolate (probably more than one episode).
- Reviews will be based on the approach I outline in the How to Taste Chocolate episode(s).
My current thinking is to produce enough episodes (five to ten) to provide a solid foundation of knowledge About cocoa and chocolate before starting the Review episodes, then go back and forth between the two categories.
What Topics Interest You?
Are there any topics not mentioned above that you think should be covered in such a series?
Are there topics I mentioned that you think don’t belong on the above list?
I want to make sure I cover persistent myths, even if you think they are redundant because they have been covered elsewhere.
If you are a maker and want to be included in a Review (there is no charge for this other than your sending me chocolate) email Member Support.
Why?
The main reason I am embarking upon this project now is to provide educational materials that help everyone become better advocates for the positions they are passionate about.
I have covered many of these topics in episodes of TheChocolateLifeLIVE and PodSaveChocolate, here I will distill these ideas into the important basics in short, easy-to-digest, segments.
Don’t Own a Copy of Discover Chocolate?
Discover Chocolate on Amazon
Published in 2007, DC is the first book to look at chocolate through the same lens as wine appreciation. It’s not my story, it’s not a history of chocolate, and there are no recipes. What would a current edition include?
If you like, I can purchase a copy, sign it, and mail it on to you or as a gift. If that interests you, email Member Support. The final cost will depend on what I pay on Amazon, plus shipping to you.
Credit Notes
The prompt used to generate the background for the hero image in Firefly was “discover chocolate” and the style prompts were “photo” and “industrial.” I think this rendering is fun because it is based on the chocolate hills of the Philippines with some observation towers.
Here are three other Firefly renderings. [L] Prompt: Discover Chocolate from the Factory to the Table, style prompts, art & Impressionist. [C] Prompt: Interior of a chocolate factory with workers, style prompts art & Steampunk. [R] Prompt: Interior of a chocolate factory with workers, style prompts art & Industrial.
Episode Hashtags and Related Accounts to Follow
#DiscoverChocolate #shorts #DiscoverChocolateShorts
#cocoa #cacao #cacau
#chocolate #chocolat #craftchocolate
#PodSaveChocolate #PodSaveChoc
#LaVidaCocoa #TheChocolateLife
Future Episodes
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