York Cocoa Works News

Welcome to our news, thoughts and experiences in the world of cocoa and chocolate.

This blog is brought to you by Sophie, our founder, as she shares more about our Chocolate making journey and reflections on the industry and our chocolate making vision.

Our story so far has been full of lots of insights into the world of our favourite product as we discover there's so much more to learn in order to build and shape a chocolate industry we can be proud of.

York Cocoa Works is our open chocolate manufactory as we endeavour to build an open, accessible and transparent chocolate making facility. We welcome your thoughts and input so together we can make better chocolate

YORK COCOA WORKS NEWS

Oct 01, 2026
Three days of complete immersion in the craft of bean-to-bar chocolate making. Our Crafting Chocolate Learning Program runs this October at York Cocoa Works — here's what to expect.

COCOA AND CHOCOLATE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Some of our thoughts and observations of the latest industry happenings
Oct 08, 2026
It's Chocolate Week — the UK's annual celebration of fine chocolate. Here's how York Cocoa Works is marking the occasion with tastings, workshops, special menus, and meet-the-maker sessions.
Aug 27, 2026
In February 2026, we won a lot of Kampura cacao — a light, heirloom-status cacao from a regenerative agroforestry farm in Izabal, Guatemala — at the Cacao of Excellence Ed Seguine Auction at Chocoa in Amsterdam. This is its story.
Is there such a thing as the "perfect" chocolate bar?
Aug 30, 2025
Did you see this news about the quest for “perfect” chocolate? For the thousands of...

THE CHOCOLATE CULTRALIST

Exploring Chocolate heritage from York and other consuming influences
Aug 20, 2026
From Mary Tuke's defiance of the Merchant Adventurers in 1725 to Agnes Pilopaso's cocoa cooperative in Guadalcanal — the women who built York's chocolate industry have always been here. It's time their story was told.
Chocolate Maker vs Chocolatier: What’s the Difference and Why Does It Matter?
Jun 01, 2026
Chocolate maker and chocolatier are not the same thing — and understanding the difference changes how you think about every bar you eat. Here's what sets them apart, and why it matters.
Why York? The Geography of a Chocolate City
May 26, 2026
Of all the cities in Britain, why did York become the chocolate capital of the world? The answer lies in geography, trade, Quaker values, and the remarkable people who shaped a city — and an industry.

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