World Chocolate and Cocoa Expo, Trinidad

I had the great pleasure of being an invited guest of the Cocoa Research Centre to be a speaker at the World Chocolate and Cocoa Day Expo (#WCCD8) that was held in Port of Spain, Trinidad, October 4-5, 2019. This was the eighth version of the chocolate event, with an added component of an Inbound Trade Mission that brought many government officials, dignitaries, and business representatives to the opening ceremony at the beautiful Hyatt Regency Hotel on October 3rd.

The Hyatt Regency Trinidad is located right on the boardwalk, where you can enjoy a meal or drink along the waterfront as the ships come and go. I was thrilled to be a guest of the hotel for three nights, and appreciated their flexibility to a very early check-in and more.

The waterfront location of the Hyatt Regency Trinidad is the perfect location for a trade expo, as there are always freighter ships coming and going at the adjacent port. There are no doubt cocoa beans among those products being shipped abroad, as it is estimated that Trinidad and Tobago will export approximately 60 metric tonnes of fine grade cocoa in 2019 to chocolate makers around the world.

I enjoyed the Trinidadian music that launched the Opening Ceremony of the World Chocolate & Cocoa Expo and Inbound Trade Mission in Port of Spain, Trinidad, jointly sponsored by the Cocoa Research Centre at the University of West Indies, the Cocoa Development Company of Trinidad & Tobago Ltd, IMPACTT (Improving, Marketing and Production of Artisanal Cocoa from Trinidad & Tobago), and several other government departments and organizations working to promote the vibrant cocoa industry in T&T.

I hope you enjoy the other posts I’ve written on the different events and seminars that made up the Expo– including the delicious cocoa and chocolate being produced in T&T, and some of the excursions I was fortunate enough to partake in during my time in Trinidad and Tobago. Happy World Food Day on October 16th, and remember … cacao and pure cocoa is the number one power food on the planet, so enjoy with joy and a clear conscience!

Doreen Pendgracs

Known throughout the Web as the "Wizard of Words", I've been a freelance writer since 1993. I'm currently researching and writing volume II of "Chocolatour: A Quest for the World's Best Chocolate". Volume I was published in September, 2013.

14 Responses

  1. Kim Lawrence says:

    I’ve always wanted to go to Trinidad. The Hyatt Regency looks like a great place to stay for events and to explore Port of Spain. Love the idea of the waterfront boardwalk!

  2. You chose a very interesting career Doreen! Trinidad looks wonderful. Looks like you had a wonderful trip while doing research for your next volume of Chocolatour!
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  3. Janet says:

    Hi Doreen . You mentioned that this was the 8th expo. Was this your first?

  4. The Port of Spain Hyatt Regency looks like a lovely spot for a conference or a vacation. Looking forward to reading more about Trinidad’s chocolate.

  5. Sounds like you had an awesome stay in Trinidad. So much nicer than the heavy cloud cover I’m experiencing in Vancouver today. It’s only 2:00 p.m. and it’s so dark — like 6:00 p.m.

    • Hi Esther. Yes, the tropics truly fuel my soul. I love the bright colours, I love the heat and the brightness of existence. I love not having to ever wear a coat, boots, or mitts. I think you’d love it, too! ❤️

  6. Wonderful that you had a great trip for such a fun reason! It looks lovely. Always that sea is always a better color than our white snow, eh?

  7. Ceci Snow says:

    Sounds like an amazing experience – as are all of your adventures!

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