On Friday 29th November, 2024, a group of Form 5 Biology students along with the Form 5 Food, Nutrition and Health class of Naparima Girls’ High School accompanied by Mrs. S Pragg-Fortune, Mrs S. Roopnarinesingh and Mrs. S. Lall-Soobrattee visited the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Cooperation to enjoy the World Cocoa and Chocolate Day 2024 Expo.
The expo was filled with an expansive array of chocolatiers, small businesses and several different organisations who sold and promoted their chocolate products, highlighting the wonders of Trinidad and Tobago. Students were encouraged to taste samples of innovative chocolate desserts, some of which were especially unique, such as chai chocolates, plantain chocolates and 100% dark chocolates. They were also allowed to purchase many items such as cookies, cakes, cocoa tea, gelato, chocolate bars, truffles, jams and even some plants. Many of the chocolate booths provided detailed explanations into the history and process of making chocolate.
The Cocoa Research Center also shared valuable information about the great diversity of cocoa and the importance of preserving its genetics. There were also fun games and quizzes and many students won small prizes. The trip proved to be both an enjoyable and educational experience, catering not only to the tastebuds and stomach but also to the brain. We at NGHS would sincerely like to thank Prof. Pathmanathan Umaharan, Dr. Lambert A. Motilal, Dr. Marissa Moses and her team at Cocoa Research UWI for such an exciting experience.
We wish them all the best in their future endeavours and look forward to more events to come.
