25th Anniversary Lifetime Special Membership Offer!
From now through June 30, 2026, new and existing members can take advantage of this special, once-in-three-decades offer.
I began my career ...
... as a professional chocolate critic, journalist, consultant, and educator in mid-May 2001, after more than seven years of research into what I needed to know to become a professional chocolate critic.
That is when I hung out my shingle on the Internet at chocophile.com.
Clay Gordon
I wrote about my story here.
Clay Gordon
You can learn more about this history of TheChocolateLife by clicking on this bookmark card.
That means ...
... I am celebrating my 25th anniversary as a professional chocolate critic, journalist, consultant, and educator.
The celebrating starts now and will continue through the end of the year.
To help me celebrate, I hope you will consider becoming a Lifetime Member – for yourself or as a gift for a chocolate fan in your life – of TheChocolateLife community. It’s a great way to show your support and, at the same time, help ensure the future of TheChocolateLife.com and all of the other work I do, including producing twice-weekly episodes of #PodSaveChocolate.
Limited Lifetime Membership Offer FAQs
1) How much does a Lifetime Membership cost?
I didn’t want the price to be completely arbitrary, so I multiplied 25 years by the cost of a Team TCL Member membership ($42/year) to arrive at $1050.
2) Who can take advantage of this offer?
New members. Current Free members. Current Premium members – everyone can take advantage of this offer!
3) I am already a Premium member. Can I Upgrade & Save?
Absolutely!
- Team TCL Guru members: You can upgrade your membership for the difference between the annual Guru Membership ($420) and the Lifetime Membership ($1050), or $630. Email Member Support to make this happen.
- Team TCL Champion members: You can upgrade your membership for the difference between the annual Champion Membership ($250) and the Lifetime Membership ($1050), or $800. Email Member Support to make this happen.
- Team TCL Leader members: You can upgrade your membership for the difference between the annual Leader Membership ($150) and the Lifetime Membership ($1050), or $900. Email Member Support to make this happen.
- Team TCL Members: You can upgrade your membership for the difference between the annual Member Membership ($42) for each year you have been a member (up to three years) and the Lifetime Membership ($1050); your price will vary. Email Member Support to make this happen.
4) What are the Lifetime Member Benefits?
- Recognition as a Lifetime Member on a Lifetime Member roster page.
- Mention as a Lifetime Member in monthly member newsletters and social media posts (YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram).
- A Lifetime Member profile page on TheChocolateLife (if desired).
- Lifetime Member-only content.
- A copy of my Pyramid Tasting Handbook eBook.
- An exclusive “TheChocolateLife Chocolate ‘Archetype’” review of your business (if you have one).
- Quarterly Lifetime Member-only AMA calls. (The first call will be in July – details to come.)
- Two FREE classified postings per year.
- Discounts on TCL merch, including limited-edition photographic prints.
- Discounts on speaking engagement fees and costs.
- Discounts on equipment ordered through TheChocolateLife. (Discounts vary depending on the supplier.)
- Five coaching/consulting hours per year (this is two more hours than what’s included in the Guru membership and is valued at $350/year).
- Additional coaching/consulting in 3-hour blocks instead of 5-hour blocks. (The cost is $175/hr, a discount from the non-member price of $2200 for ten-hour blocks.) As a Lifetime Member, this price will never increase, guaranteed!
- Early notification about tasting kits, events, and other offers.
- Contact me via a priority email address that only Lifetime Members get. Want me to cover a topic on TheChocolateLife or PodSaveChocolate? Let me know!
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Special 2026 Benefit for Lifetime Members
- My 25th Anniversary Tasting Event will take place in conjunction with the Midwest Craft Chocolate Festival on Thursday, November 5th. The tasting will feature Craft Chocolat Challenge winners. If you are in Rushville for the festival, you can attend the tasting there. If you are not, you can attend it virtually.
Lifetime Members will be the first to be notified when kits can be ordered and will get a discount (TBD as the selection of bars has not been finalized, excluding shipping, to Continental US addresses only). Only 42 Tasting Kits will be available.
A New Initiative, With Your Help
After years of research, thinking, and planning, it is my intention that 2026 will see the incorporation of the Specialty Chocolate and Cocoa Alliance, International, or SCCAI (pronounced “sky”).
I’ve seen what doesn’t work with other associations in this industry, from trade groups to NGOs. SCCAI is specifically being organized to address the governance, financing, membership, and other issues that led to their inability to effect real, meaningful, and lasting change across the chocolate value chain, from the consumer to the factory to the farmer.
SCCAI has a BHAG – a Big Hairy Audacious Goal, which is “To grow the market share of Specialty Chocolate and Cocoa from about 5% in 2025 to 25% by 2035.” I have identified a suite of activities that will enable SCCAI to achieve its BHAG.
As a LifeTime Member of TheChocolateLife, you will get an insider view of the progress of the founding of SCCAI and be presented with unique opportunities to shape its future and contribute to its success.