Key facts
- Scientists at the University of Reading have produced a chocolate bar using cocoa beans grown in Berkshire.
- The bar is a limited edition, with only six made so far.
- The University of Reading houses over 300 types of cocoa plants at its international cocoa quarantine center.
- The project aims to draw attention to the precarious nature of global food supplies and the impact of climate change on cocoa production.
- The chocolate is described as having a rich flavor with complex profiles from the diverse varieties of cocoa plants used.
Scientists at the University of Reading have successfully created an all-British chocolate bar using cocoa beans cultivated in Berkshire, a feat that echoes a unique confection gifted to the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1932. This limited-edition bar, crafted by master's student Maha Khan, marks a significant achievement in the UK's chocolate industry, which is heavily reliant on imported cocoa.
The project, developed to celebrate the university's centenary, involved harvesting, fermenting, and processing cocoa beans grown from plants within the university's collection. Khan expressed the satisfaction of overseeing the entire process from 'pod to bean to bar' without leaving Reading. The chocolate is noted for its rich flavor, stemming from over 300 varieties of cocoa plants housed at the university's international cocoa quarantine center.
Beyond the novelty, the initiative underscores the precariousness of global food supplies, particularly cocoa, which is highly sensitive to climate change. Rising temperatures and extreme rainfall have already impacted cocoa production in traditional growing regions, leading to increased chocolate prices. The University of Reading's work in preserving diverse cocoa varieties is highlighted as crucial for developing hardier plants that can withstand a changing climate, pests, and diseases.
While only six bars have been produced, there are aspirations to increase production based on bean availability. The university is considering gifting one of the bars to the Princess of Wales, drawing a parallel to the historical gift to the future queen in 1932.