Celebrating World Chocolate Day!

Chocoloza Belgian Chocolates' Vicki Bain joins 702's Refiloe for a tasting indulgence ahead of the 2019 Coffee & Chocolate Expo.

It's World Chocolate Day! And Refiloe Mpakanyane decided to celebrate with an in-studio tasting courtesy of local chocolatier and founder of Chocoloza Belgian Chocolates, Vicki Bain and her team.

Before indulging in Bain's delicious products, Refiloe found out how she came to make the move from environmental law to chocolate.

I was actually in Belgium by happy accident and I discovered wonderful chocolate that I absolutely love... that's what brought me into chocolate.

Vicki Bain, Founder and chocolatier - Chocoloza Belgian Chocolates

So I trained in Belgium as a chocolatier, in Flemish.

Vicki Bain, Founder and chocolatier - Chocoloza Belgian Chocolates

Bain says her goal was to produce the best-quality chocolate, but with a strong South African flavour.

We still use Belgian chocolate, but we use our fruit and nuts because they are the best in the world.

Vicki Bain, Founder and chocolatier - Chocoloza Belgian Chocolates

We're passionate about local suppliers; sustainability is a big thing in our brand - we will not use palm oil, we don't use preservatives, we don't use any plastics in our packaging.

Vicki Bain, Founder and chocolatier - Chocoloza Belgian Chocolates

Bain says chocolate is both science and art, the two things she is passionate about.

You've got boxes of Chocoloza chocolate on the table and it does look like art - it's marbled, it's shiny, it's glossy...

Refiloe Mpakanyane, 702 Weekend Breakfast host

Chocoloza Belgian Chocolates will be showcasing its products at the 2019 Coffee & Chocolate Expo which takes place at the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg from 26 – 28 July. Tickets are available from https://itickets.co.za/.

For more on the expo and what makes mouthwatering chocolate, take a listen: