Chemnitz – the city best known to many for its huge Karl Marx monument. ‘Nischel’, as the people of Chemnitz affectionately call it, still towers solemnly over the square. Just nearby, in the impressive Industrial Museum, the EuroBean Festival took place two weeks ago – Germany’s largest bean-to-bar chocolate festival, and this year, for the first time, we from the Swiss Good Chocolate Hub were right in the middle of it.
For me, it almost felt a bit like visiting our big sister: while our honest chocolate festival in spring is a fine, one-day and deliberately small celebration, EuroBean unfolded a veritable chocolate universe – three days full of enjoyment, exciting discussions and genuine encounters. With an impressive 50 exhibitors from 22 countries, the festival showcased the international diversity of the bean-to-bar chocolate scene. I was particularly pleased to see our four Schoggifestival friends from Switzerland, who were also there: Kürzi Kakao, Treegether, Cacao de Corazon and Musa Cacao.
What makes EuroBean – just like our Schoggifestival ehrundredlich – so special is, on the one hand, the direct contact: the stands are usually manned not just by salespeople, but by the founders and creators themselves, such as Peggy and Patrick Walter from Choco Del Sol, to whom we owe this inspiring festival in the first place. On the other hand, these two festivals also deliberately differ from many traditional food fairs: it’s not just about selling, but also about education and awareness. Many visitors have noted this in our guest book – with entries such as: ‘Enjoyment and fair trade’, ‘Less is more’ or ‘Fair pay and a fair value chain for everyone involved’. This spirit makes all the difference – and motivates us anew every year.
How do people in Germany respond to our mission to raise awareness about cocoa production and everything related to it? The answer: with incredible interest and genuine appreciation! Many visitors thanked us after our presentation, often with moments of realisation – especially when we talked about problematic issues such as child labour, deforestation and the connection between market power and global responsibility. There was also noticeable interest in the fact that not only are major brands based in Switzerland, but that these companies, with their market power, are setting an important course for the future of the cocoa sector – and that consumers have more influence than many realise.
For many, our metate – the traditional grinding stone to grind cocoa beans – was a real highlight. Repeatedly, a curious crowd gathered when a visitor or I celebrated the moment when the beans suddenly gave off an intense chocolate aroma. The enthusiasm was contagious.
We were one of the few NGOs among the exhibitors, which is precisely why – between tempting sweet samples – we were able to raise awareness among many visitors about the background to chocolate, asking questions such as: Why is handmade ‘bean to bar’ chocolate more expensive here? What does this have to do with living wages, environmental protection and politics? Why are laws needed, not just voluntary programmes – and why is Germany ahead of Switzerland in this regard (keyword: supply chain law)? I was able to explore the big question of ‘How much should it cost?’ at a public presentation by the Good Chocolate Hub.
Away from the hustle and bustle of the festival, we went on a little trip to the Karl Marx monument. The monument’s sombre gaze was sadly fitting for the topic that concerns us: global injustices and modern slavery, unfortunately also in the cocoa sector. He warns – then as now: ‘Proletarians of all countries, unite!’ And perhaps Marx looks so stern because so much is still not as it should be. At the same time, the monument and the surrounding ensemble show how relevant it is to engage with history – especially when it comes to the topic of fair trade chocolate.
At the end of the three days, I look back with gratitude: for inspiring conversations, new contacts, lots of professional exchange and the awareness that education can achieve more than any bar of chocolate alone. Many thanks to Peggy and Patrick Walter and all the hosts at Choco Del Sol for the invitation and for organising EuroBean – we’ll be happy to come back!
