The Ultimate Team-Building Activity: Chocolate Tasting

When planning team-building activities, finding something that resonates with everyone can be challenging! Athletics may exclude some, happy hours aren’t for everyone, and cooking classes can be tricky with dietary restrictions. Enter: a chocolate-tasting experience. It’s inclusive, engaging, and irresistibly delicious!

Here’s why chocolate tasting might be the perfect plan for your next team-building event.

Team Bonding for Everyone

Chocolate tasting is more than just sampling indulgent treats; it’s a journey that connects people through shared experiences. Here’s how our chocolate tastings foster team bonding:

• Storytelling & Sharing: As participants hear stories about origin-made chocolate, they naturally share their own “origin stories” and experiences, sharing commonalities that deepen connections.
• Interactive Learning: Teams discover the bean-to-bar journey, learn the art of mindful tasting, and travel the globe together through flavors.
• Global Connections: Our curated chocolate flights feature diverse makers from around the world. Participants hear directly from these artisans via video, creating a personal connection to their craft, creativity, and culture.

This unique activity sparks laughter, conversation, and collaboration—perfect for building stronger workplace relationships.

The Science Behind Chocolate Tasting

Chocolate isn’t just a treat; it’s a mood booster backed by science! With the effects we all hope for from a team-building session, here’s how it benefits both body and mind:

• Stress Reduction & Energy Boost: Eating chocolate has been shown to reduce stress while giving you a gentle energy lift.^1,2
• Mood Enhancement: Chocolate activates brain regions associated with positive emotions—similar to the feelings of love and connection.¹
• Bliss-Inducing Compounds: It contains anandamide, the brain’s natural joy chemical, which promotes feelings of happiness and euphoria.¹
• Cognitive Benefits: Research shows that cocoa improves cognition, attention, processing speed, and working memory in dose-dependent ways.^3,4
• Mindful Eating: Tasting chocolate mindfully enhances its mood-lifting properties even further.⁵

In short, chocolate tasting isn’t just indulgent—it’s scientifically proven to make you feel great while sharpening your mind and connecting your heart!

Why Choose Around-the-World Chocolate Tastings?

Our tastings are designed to create unforgettable moments while showcasing the best of craft chocolate. Here’s what makes them special:

• Inclusive Fun: Unlike athletic events or happy hours, chocolate tastings are accessible to all ages, genders, and are well-suited to most dietary preferences*.
• Cultural Exploration: Each kit highlights small-scale producers in cacao-growing regions, offering insights into sustainability, direct trade, and gender equity.
• Shared Memories: Sampling chocolates often evokes childhood nostalgia and sparks conversations about personal tastes and preferences.

Whether your team gathers in person or virtually, our tasting experiences bring people together in a meaningful way.

The Benefits of Team-Building Activities with Chocolate

Team-building activities are essential for fostering collaboration and engagement within organizations. Unlike other activities that may inadvertently exclude some participants, chocolate tasting is universally appealing—making it an ideal choice for diverse teams.

...Studies show that nurturing our human need for belonging improves job performance and wellbeing. Employees with strong relationships at work are more creative and collaborative; they also experience less burnout and are more likely to stay with their organization.⁶ - Harvard Business Review

Here’s how chocolate tasting checks the boxes:

• Boosts Job Satisfaction & Engagement: Shared experiences improve morale and strengthen team dynamics.
• Breaks the Ice & Encourages Belonging: Chocolate tastings provide a relaxed environment where new team members can integrate seamlessly into company culture without pressure or awkwardness.
  

What People Are Saying About Our Chocolate Tastings

Don’t just take our word for it! Here’s what past participants have shared about their experiences:

“My co-workers LOVED this! I used this tasting as a team-building event at work… It was so fun to hear their reactions.” – Jill E.

“As food- and travel-lovers, this was a wonderful way for my work team to virtually celebrate… We thoroughly enjoyed the chocolates and learning about the origin-maker's story.” – Colleen A.

“Very informative and delicious… This session is super helpful in helping me understand what to look for… Definitely recommend this!” – Yuan Z.

Plan Your Chocolate Adventure Today!

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, we aim to make origin-made chocolate tastings accessible to everyone while supporting small-scale producers worldwide. Whether your team is remote or in-person, we’ll design an experience tailored to your goals and budget.

With four unique chocolate-tasting themes, there’s something for every team dynamic. Let us help you create an unforgettable bonding experience filled with laughter, learning—and lots of chocolate!

Contact us today to plan your next team-building adventure! 🍫

References & Notes:

*Our tastings are not sugar-free. However, most of the products feature 70%+ cocoa content and are crafted with less sugar than typical foods. If a team member is concerned about sugar or carb content, please contact us. We're happy to make substitutions or advise on portion sizes so the entire team can freely participate.   

1. Sternberg, E. (2024, February 8). Love and Chocolate: Two Ways to Calm and Energize. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/creating-wellbeing-wherever-you-are/202402/love-and-chocolate-two-ways-to-calm-and-energize
2. Rodrigues-Silva, Nuno. "Chocolate: Psychopharmacological Aspects, Mood, and Addiction." Chocolate in Health and Nutrition (2013): 421-435.
3. Socci V, Tempesta D, Desideri G, De Gennaro L, Ferrara M. Enhancing Human Cognition with Cocoa Flavonoids. Front Nutr. 2017 May 16;4:19. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2017.00019. PMID: 28560212; PMCID: PMC5432604.
4. Smit, H.J., Gaffan, E.A. & Rogers, P.J. Methylxanthines are the psycho-pharmacologically active constituents of chocolate. Psychopharmacology 176, 412–419 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-004-1898-3
5. Brian P. Meier, Sabrina W. Noll, Oluwatobi J. Molokwu, The sweet life: The effect of mindful chocolate consumption on mood, Appetite, Volume 108, 2017, Pages 21-27, ISSN 0195-6663, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2016.09.018.
   

6. Knight, R. (2024, August 7). *17 Team-Building Activities for In-Person, Remote, and Hybrid Teams*. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from [https://hbr.org/2024/08/17-team-building-activities-for-in-person-remote-and-hybrid-teams](https://hbr.org/2024/08/17-team-building-activities-for-in-person-remote-and-hybrid-teams).