The making of... Chocolatemakers Lecture package

Chocolate, The Factory, Chocolatemakers, Bean-to-bar, Couverture

As you may have already seen, Chocolatemakers has had a real Speaking Package. This beautiful package was created by Juf Suze de Wit together with student Amber van Rossum (11 years old at the time). Meanwhile, several speaking engagements have already been held by students! But how did this it actually started and what is it like to make such a package? We talked about this last week with Suze and Amber at the factory.

How it all began
In the spring of 2015, Suze visited Chocolatemakers' factory in Amsterdam North with group 6 of De Kleine Reus elementary school. "It was a treat to be shown around all the steps in the production process in the delicious smells of chocolate. We were able to follow all the steps: from bean to bar".

A special package
Back at school, the idea arose from the children to create a book about Chocolatemakers. After a few weeks there was a beautiful book in which all the steps of chocolate making were described and illustrated in detail. This book was presented as a gift to Enver Loke (co-founder of Chocolatemakers) who was very touched. And this made it clear to Suze and Enver: we want to do more with education.

The first step: creating a speaking package. And not just any information package, but a special package made by a teacher together with a student! Below, Suze and Amber explain how it was done.

Striking illustrations
Suze: Both Enver and I immediately noticed Amber's illustrations in the book: crisp lines, clean yet playful and, above all, strikingly individual. So we quickly decided that we wanted to ask her to do the illustrations.

Amber: I really enjoyed going into the drawings, but had to check with my parents first.

Suze: Fortunately, it was allowed. After hefty negotiations with Amber about the amount of chocolate bars she would receive as compensation, she went to work frantically. The most beautiful drawings appeared on the table.

Amber: Suze gave me a list of things to draw. Some drawings I tried 5 times before I thought they were good enough.

Suze: I didn't even know that! I always got to see only the impressive end result.

Amber: The most fun I had was to pick up all the things in the factory and start drawing them. I ended up liking the drawing of the cocoa tree and the sailboat the best.

The collaboration between teacher and student
Suze: I found it very fun and special to do, but sometimes it was also difficult. I doubted whether I wasn't asking too much of Amber? Then I needed another drawing and had to bother her again. Fortunately, her parents were okay with her doing this. Together we came to such a beautiful result. I am very proud of Amber.

Amber: It was a lot of drawings though, there were also classmates who wanted to help me.

Suze: At a certain point, I didn't dare ask for more drawings from Amber, so then I did a few more drawings myself, like the front cover. I had to work in Amber's style though... I think her drawings turned out nicer than mine.

Amber: At the end it was quite a lot too. Especially a lot of chocolate too 🙂

Suze: Together with Joep van der Made, the graphic designer of Chocolatemakers, Amber's drawings were processed into one. This made it a really cool talk package. You can keep looking at it, there is always something new to discover.

In the future
Amber: I do like drawing a lot. My dad is also good at drawing. But actually I want to become an Interior Designer.

Suze: Really? I would love it so much if you became an artist.

(Of course, we asked right away if Amber had any ideas for the factory...)

Amber: Yes indeed! I would make a better seating area though.... And a different color on the walls. The atmosphere a little more industrial, with brown/gray and yellow lamps. Then it will be more cozy.

Amber: I like the fact that everything is done with old machines and that you really do it all yourselves. But I do have an idea for your chocolate: a little more milk in the bar, I like that better.

Would you also like to give a talk about chocolate making and how Chocolatemakers do it? Then take a look here to download it for FREE. Or here to order it in a package. Then, in addition to a printed handbook, you will also receive cocoa beans, nibs, a hairnet and chocolate.

Will you let us know how your speaking engagement went? (like LouLou from Little Giant Elementary School below). For example, use #speechchocolatemakers or #speechchocolate on social media. We like that!

Teacher Suze's Group 8 provided feedback on the talk package (in exchange for chocolate, of course). Thank you very much!