Hidden Cocoa: Everyday Consumption and the Future of Chocolate

Chocolate is often seen as a simple everyday treat, but cocoa is embedded far more deeply within modern life than many people realise. From supermarket snacks and drinks to cosmetics, flavourings and processed foods, cocoa and cocoa-derived ingredients appear across a wide range of products and industries.

This talk explores the hidden histories and evolving role of cocoa through everyday consumption, packaging, ingredients and industrial processing. Looking at both past and present, it examines how chocolate has historically been altered, diluted and bulked out, and how modern food systems continue to reshape what we recognise as “chocolate” today.

Drawing together social history, material culture and contemporary questions around manufacturing and consumption, the session will explore themes including hidden ingredients, branding, labour, industrialisation, changing food technologies and the emergence of synthetic and “chocolate-free” alternatives.

Alongside historical references and contemporary examples, the talk connects these wider systems back to ordinary daily life - the products we buy, consume and throw away without always considering where they come from or how they are made.

Part of the wider Heritage Open Days theme “Everyday Histories”, this event invites audiences to look differently at one of the world’s most familiar and culturally embedded products.

Timings

Saturday 19 September:

1430-1530

Location & directions

Carrow House, King Street, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 2TG

Directions:

On arrival at Carrow House, follow the route through our gates to the right of the building, past the Orangery. Here you will see a large car park where you can leave your car for the duration of your visit for free. However, we are close to Norwich train station, there's a bus stop and Beryl Bike hub on King Street and a bike shelter on site, so do please consider alternative methods of transport if possible. If you have access requirements, there are 6 disabled parking bays at the front of the building. Let us know if you need further assistance and we will do our best to accommodate where possible. Next head to the glass fronted reception if the new building, where one of the team will come and meet you. Please note that due to the nature of this building, some areas can only be accessed by stairs.

Contact on day:

Lynn Lockwood

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking required

Booking conditions:

If you can no longer fulfil your booking, please cancel this by emailing [email protected] at least 48hrs in advance of the booked event to provide others with the opportunity to attend.

Booking contact name:

The Forum

Booking website:

https://norfolkhods.ticketsolve.com/

Booking opens:

26 Aug 2026 10:00 AM

Booking closes:

10 Sep 2026 03:00 PM

Accessibility details

Please be aware that Carrow House is a place of work for 25 local charities, some of them working with vulnerable children and adults. Please be respectful when moving around the site. We truly hope you have a wonderful time.

Additional information

Max number of people:

34

Estimated duration:

1 hour(s)

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