We were invited to get a peek at the brand new Chocolate Exhibit. Here is our family’s experience with the new exhibit.
The Chocolate Exhibit, at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, is a great way to help kids learn about the process of chocolate – where it comes from, its history, and how it’s made. The newest exhibit is done so well. The exhibit designers hit on a great mix of displays with some being readable signs with facts, such as bugs that are an important part of the ecosystem where chocolate grows, and interactive displays where children can explore things about chocolate. History and science are all wrapped into one manageable sensory display.
When you hear “cocoa bean” do you think of a tiny coffee bean? Cocoa beans are a bit bigger than coffee beans and come from a pod that is around 9 inches long. Nestled in a white pulp, the work has only just begun when they are harvested from the trees in South America and now, West Africa. At the Academy of Natural Science Museum’s Chocolate Exhibit you will learn what a cacao tree looks like, how chocolate is harvested, and embark on the long journey it takes from tree to your favorite chocolate products.
Most kids already learn in school that chocolate was “discovered” and made popular by ancient Aztecs who believed it was a gift from one of their gods. This adventure takes them a step farther in an indepth learning experience. They will learn how Cacao beans became a preferred form of payment, and how when the rich cocoa drink was prepared there were special ceremonial vessels used and one wore their best attire. As time went by and trade started progressing throughout the world, European aristocracy used fine china to serve hot cocoa to their guests. By the 20th century chocolate became a staple in many households around the world.
As we reach the end of our tour we get to see how a chocolate bar is made, learn about the pitfalls of the chocolate industry ( child labor and slavery), and see where it’s coming in at on NYSE (New York Stock Exchange). Finally we end at a chocolate gift store, filled with fair trade specialty chocolate products. With hot cocoa mixes, chocolate bars, and cookies, there is something to tantalize everyone’s senses.
We highly recommend you visit the Academy of Natural Sciences and Chocolate: The Exhibit while it is on display.
The Chocolate Exhibit runs October 11, 2014 – January 24, 2015.
Exhibit cost is $5 per person for non-members and $3 per person for members.
Chocolate Study Guide
- Where chocolate comes from
- How chocolate became a world product
- Ancient Mayan and Aztec influence on chocolate as we know it
- How chocolate bars are made
- Studies of the countries chocolate is grown in
- Human rights, child labor, and fair trade discussions
I’m a chocolate lover. Good to know how it’s actually produced.
I am a big time chocolate lover. This sounds really interesting 🙂
This is great, we did something at the Hershey Chocolate world and it was amazing to do a real chocolate tasting.
This exhibit sounds delicious to see. I wish I knew about it this past week when my oldest was off school!
wow what a cool exhibit. I love chocolate and this would be so fun to explore.
Oh my goodness, anything that has to do with chocolate has my attention. Yummy. Thanks for sharing
What a super cool exhibit for grown ups and kids. I love this. Learning about chocolate is almost as cool as eating it!
What a great way to spend a family day. Thanks for the review!
This is super cool – I would love to take my kids to this – I love how educational and fun this is!
It is good to learn about chocolate. We all enjoy eating it, we should know more about where it comes from and how it is made.
who doesn’t love chocolate? It would be awesome to get to know the history of chocolate, too!
This looks like so much fun!
A couple of summers ago my oldest and I did a Chocolate tasting and we also got a history lesson on chocolate. I had no idea how much was involved from simple bean to yummy treat.
Oh yum! That sounds like fun.
Now that is something I could get into. Awesome event.
Whoa… I just eat chocolate. Great information on it’s history and how it is made. Thanks.I just know it is tasty.
I have been wanting to visit this museum for awhile now. I will get there one day.
What a cool idea for a museum exhibition! I would love to visit this and learn all about chocolate.
As a homescchool mom, I totally plan to take my kids to things like this. Chocolate is one of my favorites so I would really enjoy going to something like this as well.
This looks like it is a fun exhibit that can take your love of chocolate and turn it into a fuller understanding of it. We’ll have to try to get to see it soon.
We need to get to this. Maybe in February. I saw a chocolate demonstration years ago at Science Week and it was awesome. I still think about much of what I was taught. I would love for my kids to see it too!
Sadly it ends in a few days. February will have snakes. *Shudder* So not my thing but my kids will love it.
We adore chocolate in this house. I swear, it’s a staple of our diets 😉
It belongs in every good diet.
This looks like a really cool tour. I would love to learn more about the history of chocolate and think it is neat that it was thought to be a gift from the Gods.
I am also a huge chocolate fan and history of how and where it’s from is a great all to see.