Q:  Is there an equivalent of Q-grading in cacao or chocolate?
A: Currently, there is no formal grading system for cacao beyond the ICE Cocoa Grader one. The work being carried out by Cacao of Excellence constitutes an unprecedented effort to direct and promote an industry-wide standard for the grading and evaluation of cacao quality and flavour. Please contact Cacao of Excellence for questions regarding cacao and chocolate quality training via the Program’s Coordinator Julien Simonis (j.simonis@cgiar.org) or the Associate Team Leader of the Cacao Quality Laboratory and Training Center Sebastián Escobar Parra (s.escobar@cgiar.com).

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Q:  Is there an equivalent to wine’s WSET or a "chocolate somm” program? 
A:  At the moment, there are no widely available, standardized nonprofit/registered charity educational initiatives devoted to the sensory training of cacao and chocolate professionals. However, business-led or for-profit organizations focused on this endeavor do exist with the goal of marketing specific chocolate companies, awards systems, consulting services, or cacao origins, such as those offered by Ecole Chocolat, the International Institute of Cacao and Chocolate Tasting (IICCT), or Cacao Latitudes’ Cocoa Masterclass.​​​