The Northwest Chocolate Festival 2026

Lauren Adler has spent years introducing people to the world of craft chocolate, and she knows exactly where to start. In this Chocolate 101 session, the founder and Chief Chocophile of The Chocolate Explorers Club walks you through everything you wish you'd known before walking the festival floor — why cacao origin matters, what happens between the farm and the bar, how to taste with intention, and why that $12 bar might be worth every penny. Come curious. Leave with context.

This talk focuses on the work of women living in rural areas and their deep connection to cacao and chocolate. Through this session, we aim to highlight their knowledge, practices, and the essential role they play in transforming cacao.

The experience includes a guided tasting of chocolates made by these women. These are artisan products, created using methods passed down through generations, with minimal refining processes that preserve the true essence of cacao and reflect their cultural and territorial context.

Chocolate is an amazing food and there are so many wonderful details that are not generally known. Let’s explore the science of chocolate and chocolate-making and try to turn you into a true chocolate expert. We'll explore the transformational steps used to turn cocoa beans into silky smooth chocolate. We'll dig a little deeper into the physics and chemistry involved in making chocolate. Find answers to the age-old chocolate questions, such as... What is tempering? What is conching? Why does a chocolate bar turn white when you leave it in a hot car? This will be a fun Q&A, so let’s explore chocolate together.

I plan to talk about the most recent developments in the world of science as they relate to chocolate and cacao.  The audience members will have an opportunity to learn about the latest developments across the various scientific disciplines and also to develop some insights into determining the limits and reality to what they might read in the headlines.  I have found the general audience at NW very curious and highly educated when it comes to chocolate so I expect a dynamic session.

What role have women really played in the story of chocolate—and where are they shaping its future?

In this dynamic three-part workshop, cacao educators and Women of Cacao co-founders Ava J. Holmes and Fiorella Richter invite guests into an interactive conversation around gender, leadership, and opportunity across the cacao and chocolate value chain.

(This could also be presented as a panel if preferred - fyi!)

We begin with a culturally historical overview of women in chocolate—tracing women's roles in early cultivation, preparation, and ritual use, through early colonialism, to the often under-recognized positions in today’s industry. Backed by industry insights, this section explores where women are leading, where gaps remain, and why it matters.

From there, we introduce Women of Cacao—a global, bilingual network uniting professionals across sectors: from genetics and farming to chocolate making, science, and ceremony. Learn how this growing community is amplifying under-represented voices, and creating new pathways for collaboration, education, and leadership.

Finally, we open the doors to the Women of Cacao Summit 2027, a hybrid virtual and in-person global gathering. Discover how you can participate and be part of a movement connecting thousands across the cacao world in a shared, values-driven experience.

Verticalized chocolate operations in Hawaii can be seen as acts of decolonizing resistance, rooted in John Lewis' idea of Good Trouble. This talk will discuss Lonohana's efforts to use commerce to drive meaningful local and regenerative change, from agriculture to finished products, and everything in between. The audience should learn about recent history of cacao and chocolate in Hawaii, and how localizing this food raises lots of interesting and sometimes subtle institutional challenges. Slides will be presented to give context and background information, and the audience will hopefully leave with a clearer understanding of the social justice and environmental meaning behind choosing truly local chocolate products.

I will communicate how to integrate cacao into your wellness routine as a tool to connect with yourself and others. I will highlight its nourishing health benefits as well as nourishing energetic benefits.