Halloween week 2020 was the ideal time to share the candy story that I recently wrote for Bon Appetit Magazine! It was a labor of love to write about five of my fav subjects: Africa, Paris, chocolate, women’s entrepreneurship and prying off the shackles of colonialism.
Excerpt:When we think of chocolate, brands like Hershey’s, Cadbury, Godiva, and Nestle often come to mind. But at the annual Salon du Chocolat in Paris—the world’s largest event devoted exclusively to chocolate and cocoa—there are at least 230 boutique brands from over 60 countries that produce chocolate. Most of the festival’s 100,000-plus attendees flock there to find new favorites and explore new flavors at the colossal Porte de Versailles event center, where culinary and artistic competitions, chocolate-making workshops, musical performances, and even a chocolate fashion show are held every fall.
I attended my first Salon in 2007. What began as the adventure of a chocolate lover has become a repeated pilgrimage. Last year, as I wandered through the villages of vibrant stalls—many assembled by region or theme—I arrived at a large pavilion sign that read “She Trades,” which showcased five African women–owned companies. After attending so many other salons, I realized that I had never met an African woman chocolate manufacturer. It was an honor, privilege, and delight to peruse the pavilion, sample their chocolates, and hear stories from Africa’s chocolate industry.
To read more visit: https://www.bonappetit.com/story/57-chocolate-adrinka