Yusra3
VIP Contributor
Becoming a professional chocolate taster is a dream job for any chocolate lover but requires developing an expert palate through study and practice. Follow these tips to start on the delicious career path:
- Enroll in chocolate tasting or chocolate making classes. There are programs at schools like Ecole Chocolat that build foundational skills through sensory instruction.
- Refine your sense of taste. Train yourself to detect subtleties in flavor by trying chocolate from different origins, with varying cocoa percentages and processing methods.
- Study chocolate production methods. Learn terminology and understand how factors from fermentation to conching impact chocolate’s final flavor.
- Practice describing flavors in detail. A taster needs a discerning palate that can pick out dominant and background flavors and aromas. Expand your tasting vocabulary.
- Gain experience in chocolate shops. Get first-hand exposure to high quality chocolate by working part-time in a specialty retail store, factory or cafe.
- Learn from professional chocolate tasters. Read books, blogs and articles detailing how the pros developed their palates and techniques. Follow their advice.
- Participate in chocolate industry events. Attend trade shows like the Northwest Chocolate Festival to try new products and connect with chocolate companies.
- Consider professional certifications. Programs like the International Institute of Chocolate Tasting provide respected credentials in evaluating chocolate.
- Build a tasting portfolio. Document and review your structured chocolate tasting notes over time to calibrate your palate and track progress.
With passion, practice and perseverance in developing your expert tastebuds, a sweet career as a chocolate taster can be yours.
- Enroll in chocolate tasting or chocolate making classes. There are programs at schools like Ecole Chocolat that build foundational skills through sensory instruction.
- Refine your sense of taste. Train yourself to detect subtleties in flavor by trying chocolate from different origins, with varying cocoa percentages and processing methods.
- Study chocolate production methods. Learn terminology and understand how factors from fermentation to conching impact chocolate’s final flavor.
- Practice describing flavors in detail. A taster needs a discerning palate that can pick out dominant and background flavors and aromas. Expand your tasting vocabulary.
- Gain experience in chocolate shops. Get first-hand exposure to high quality chocolate by working part-time in a specialty retail store, factory or cafe.
- Learn from professional chocolate tasters. Read books, blogs and articles detailing how the pros developed their palates and techniques. Follow their advice.
- Participate in chocolate industry events. Attend trade shows like the Northwest Chocolate Festival to try new products and connect with chocolate companies.
- Consider professional certifications. Programs like the International Institute of Chocolate Tasting provide respected credentials in evaluating chocolate.
- Build a tasting portfolio. Document and review your structured chocolate tasting notes over time to calibrate your palate and track progress.
With passion, practice and perseverance in developing your expert tastebuds, a sweet career as a chocolate taster can be yours.
