The sweet science of chocolate
Primary school students got to indulge their sweet tooth by trying their hand at the art of chocolate making.
Around forty Bermuda High School (BHS) Primary Four children attended a demonstration by chefs at Paget’s Fourways Inn yesterday to learn about the science and history behind the process.
Primary Four teacher Samantha Morrell said her students were taught about how chocolate is made and what can be done with it, with the chefs showing them the moulds they use and the heating and cooling process that creates the finished product.
They also got to make their own chocolate truffles, which they were allowed to take home, and tried out the chocolate fountain at Fourways Inn with cheesecake and marshmallows.
“The highlight of the field trip was watching a very enthusiastic group of girls work alongside professionally trained chefs to create their own truffle treats,” Ms Morrell said.
“Their curiosity about the science of chocolate making was ignited and I am sure there will be lots of excited chatter around dinner tables as the girls pass on their new-found knowledge.”
Ms Morrell explained that BHS has introduced a new International Primary Curriculum this year in which subjects are taught around an all-inclusive programme — and her students are studying a “chocolate” unit. She said that the students had already covered the history of chocolate by tracing its origin and how it spread across the world. They also studied the statistics by looking at the top-consuming countries and put that data into graphs.
The geographic element examined where cocoa is grown, produced and exported. Ms Morrell added that the students also designed and built their own 3-D factories to help them learn about the technology behind chocolate manufacturing.
Director of training, leadership and communications for MEF restaurants Dale Butler added: “The fact is we have a chocolate fountain and we are always looking to encourage Bermudians to look at hospitality as a career.
“We saw this as a golden opportunity and when they approached us we leapt at the chance.”