Student Services Organizes Day Trip to Perugia for Chocolate Festival

JCU students enjoying the chocolate-making demonstration at the Perugina Factory

On October 15th a group of JCU students went chocolate hunting! Accompanied by four JCU staff members, the group went to the annual Chocolate Festival held in Perugia, a medieval city in the central region of Umbria. During the Choco-Festival, more than 150 exhibitors fill Perugia’s main streets with their tents making the city Italy’s cocoa capital.

At the festival each student received a “Chococard” with which they had the chance to get free chocolate samples and complimentary gifts at the participating festival stands. Students raved about the free cioccolata calda that they described as a delicious mixture between American hot chocolate and chocolate pudding.

In the early afternoon, the JCU group was treated to a private tour of the Perugina chocolate factory. Perugina, now part of Nestlé, is Italy’s most famous chocolate company. The guided tour included a chocolate-making demonstration led by a master chocolatier, a video about the Perugina brand and the chocolate-making process, a glimpse of the factory at work from the enclosed sky bridge, and plenty of Baci, chocolate “kisses”, to eat.

All who participated in the Perugia day trip enjoyed not only the exquisite chocolate, but also the congenial atmosphere created by students and staff.