Winter Warmth with the Art of Chocolate

In giving warmth to the Christchurch community, on July 23 at 2 pm, Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island specially organized “The Art of Chocolate” at the Fo Guang Yuan (FGY) Art Gallery Christchurch. An honoured guest, Oonagh Brown from the SHE (Spiritual Human Evolution) Chocolat company was invited over for a demonstration in the Art of chocolate making, attracting more than 180 valued guests. The event started with Venerable Abbess Manshin introducing SHE Chocolat and a short speech wishing confidence and enthusiasm in Christchurch will bloom more in facing Canterbury earthquakes after this winter activity.

Oonagh then started the event in commentating three kinds of raw materials for chocolate and shared the manufacturing process. Artfully, she continued in illustrating the secret of chocolate making by blending one’s heart and other ingredients in the merging of the cocoa mixture, producing the art of chocolate.

Even though the big crowd was squeezed against each other, guests were warmly responsive and asked a lot of questions regarding the art. Oonagh expressed, the amount of cocoa powder is the key in chocolate manufacturing, if chocolate is made with just cocoa powder and a small amount of milk with proper adjustment of temperature, it would produce good chocolate. There were nearly 20 kinds and 600 pieces of chocolates for sale with the proceeds going for charity that day. Lavender & Blackcurrant, Macadamia Praline, Velvetine, Five Spice & Berry were a few of the flavours in the exhibition.

The event ended with an enjoyable and scrumptious afternoon tea at the Dining Hall. This event has certainly brought surprises to a lot of chocolate lovers and all Friends of the Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery complimented that this appealing activity had gave warmth to their hearts.