Monday 16th October was the first day of Chocolate Week - the biggest, most indulgent, chocolate celebration the UK has ever enjoyed. Now in it’s fourth year, the country’s finest chocolatiers and chocolate shops are taking part in the week from 16th to 22nd October.

Chocolate Week is pure chocolate indulgence with talks, tastings, demonstrations, launches of new chocolates, chocolate fountains, sculptures etc. Foodies will be able to find out more about chocolate, it’s origins, cocoa beans, how it is made and also taste the finest chocolate in the world. Visit www.chocolate-week.co.uk/events to find out what's planned in your area.

The past year has seen some exciting changes to the British chocolate scene and some fantastic new chocolate shops have opened their doors. Food lovers will be able to meet the chocolatiers, make chocolate, view chocolate sculptures and fountains, listen to the experts at talks and demonstrations and, most important of all, indulge in some of the finest chocolate they will ever taste including new chocolates created exclusively for Chocolate Week.

This weeks Chocolate Week is overseen by the Academy of Chocolate. Sara Jayne-Stanes, Chair of the Academy says “If you like chocolate - real chocolate, that is (the intensely dark and exciting sort that floods the taste buds with overtones of spice, fruit and cocoa) - then you will love Chocolate Week. We’ve got some very prestigious partners for this year’s event and a wealth of exciting events planned throughout the week. You'll be in chocolate heaven - I know I will!”

Chocolatiers and shops such as L'artisan du Chocolat, Chococo, Divine, La Maison du Chocolat, Harrods, Melt, Paul A Young, Rococo, Seventypercent, The Chocolate Gourmet, William Curley and many more are all taking part holding their own events and promotions. Events this year include tastings, chocolate cocktails at The Sanderson, chocolate film evenings, chocolate themed meals and a chocolate burlesque party at the Volupte Lounge.

Chocolate is one of the UK’s favourite indulgences and we consume on average over 11kg per person each year. Much of this is “newsagent chocolate” but the UK is now waking up to the benefits of real chocolate from the world’s best chocolatiers including world famous home-grown talent.

Chocolate Week provides an opportunity to learn about and indulge in real chocolate – from health benefits to quality ingredients that produce subtle textures, innovative flavours and creative designs which help us to choose and enjoy fine chocolate in the same way we do with fine wine.

For more information visit www.chocolate-week.co.uk