This May, 2015, Arabica Coffee Roasters worked with the Hilton Double Tree in Guangzhou to create a unique coffee & chocolate experience for the Double Tree Guangzhou’s guests. The goal was to launch the “coffee and chocolate set” for the hot summer months in Guangzhou to increase sales in the Double Tree’s Lobby Lounge. We took advantage of the Food & Wine Experience event, and held a one time coffee and chocolate tasting for local Media and for Hilton VIP guests. The turnout was excellent. We had expected to get 20-30 people, but had almost 70 by the time the event was in full swing.

We worked with the Double Tree’s marketing department to create a range of digital marketing materials which, after the event, we sent to participants at the event.  Our goal here was to get the local media to forward to the pictures and video to their friends, in hopes that they would come in to purchase the “chocolate and coffee set”.  The materials included:

• This “landing page” which describes the event. We have this landing page tied in to google analytics, and give feedback to the Double Tree’s marketing department about who was finding out about the event from what sources. We do this to help increase the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns;

• The video of the event. You can find the video embedded below. If you are viewing this on a mobile device, we recommend that you check out the video on this youku.com link: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTI3NDUzNjg4OA==.html?from=s1.8-1-1.2


• Table tents which describe the “Summer Chocolate & Coffee” Set. These table tents have QR links to this landing page. This landing page both acts as a “counter” to judge the success of the promotion, and also has the instructions on how to make the special chocolates that Chef Amy created for this event (she mentioned that the chocolates are easy to make at home in her presentation, and it is included in the video, so we included the actual recipes on this page for people who are interested).

The event itself was a presentation of coffee & chocolate history, and cultivation. It then moved into a tasting of coffee and chocolate.  Arabica Coffee Roasters’ GM, Stuart Eunson, did the presentation, then turned the spotlight over to Chef Amy, “master of sweet”, who created three custom made chocolate truffles for this event. The truffles were unique, and based on traditional Chinese summer flavors. We worked together to market the fact that these chocolates are handmade, and can only be found at the Double Tree Guangzhou. You can find the descriptions below.


This summer, at DoubleTree by Hilton, “Yat” our newly developed product will be introduced and samples will be provided. Come by our sampling session and to checkout our recent product.

Address: 1st Floor DaTang (大堂) Tea Lounge

      YueXiu District, Guang Zhou City.

    P.R. China

Phone Number: 020 - 2833 2888
 

We provide the recipes below because, as Chef Amy mentioned during the tasting:“If you really like it, you can easilymake it yourself at home.” 

If you are interested in learning how to make handmade Star chocolate, you can watch the video provided below to learn about the process of making them.

Ingredient:
Chocolate Purple Sweet PotatoMilk Chocolate Truffle:

1.Gather purple potatoes (200g) and milk chocolate (150g).

2.Steam the potatoes.

3.Mash it thoroughly.

4.Form it into ball-shape (20g).

5.Gently dip into milk chocolate and twist.

6.After multiples are made, put all of them into the freezers for four hours at 30 degree F’ 

7.At this temperature, there is isolation between the potato and the layer of chocolate. At that point, it may be consumed.

 

Black SesameDark Chocolate Truffle:

1.Gather black sesame seed (100g), chocolate (300g), butter (100g), and dark chocolate balls (30g).

2.Grind the sesame seeds.

3.Heat the butter to 80 degree F’.

4.Pour butter into 100g of chocolate and grinded sesame seed mixture.

5.Mix it well and form the mixture into a ball shape. Gently dip and roll in melted dark chocolate.

6.Sprinkle with black sesame seed (or grinded)

7.Cool to 31 degree F’ before consuming.

 

Litchi Yogurt White Chocolate Truffle:

1.Litchi fruit (50g), sour cream (50g), white chocolate (200g), chocolate balls (30).

2.Mince the litchi fruit. 

3.Transform the minced litchi and sour cream together into a filling.

4.Form the filling into ball-shaped.

5.Gently dip and rolled in white chocolate.

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Arabica Roaster Coffee Company was founded in 1994, to reflect the core values of creating“ecstaticcustomers.” The Summer Chocolate & Coffee Tasting did not disappoint the attendees.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel is located in YueXiu District of Guangzhou, the heart of the central business district with other attractions, such as government agencies, restaurants, shopping centre, and many other places that are only within few minutes away from Guangzhou. From Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Guangzhou Railway Station is only 8min drive and direct transportation only requires 45 minutes. There is a metro station from the hotel that conveniently allowing accessing to all parts of the city.


General Manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Chris Roberts (left), and General Manager of Arabica Coffee Roasters, Stuart Eunson,(middle), happily conversing. 


Food and Beverage Manager of Foshan Hotel, Emile Otte. (Middle)


Solomon Rutega and his wife Irene (Uganda’s Consulate-General in Guangzhou, responsible for development of Uganda coffee in China; Consul General of Ugandan Consulate in Guangzhou) and General Managerof Arabica Coffee Roasters, Stuart Eunson,and the General Manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Chris Roberts,having conversation.Solomon and Chris had not seen each other since Chris was based in Beijing… it was a good catch up. 


Arabica Roasters Coffee barista, Mr. ChenQiang, making lattes, cappuccino, and espressos.

Arborea Milk is a brand partner with Arabica Coffee Roasters in China. Their milk is excellent, and is perfect to froth for both cappuccinos and lattes. You can learn more about them at the links below.

Beautiful Cow milk China’s website:www.thehappyislandforcows.com

Beautiful Cow milk U.S. website: www.arborea.it

Beautiful Cow milk App: YPLNNN

During the promotionwe featured ourJane Goodall coffee line. This line of coffees consist of  Jane Goodall Fair Trade,organically grown coffee blend, Jane Goodall Low Carbon Coffee Blend, made by using Beautiful Cow milk.

You can read more about our Jane Goodall Coffee Offerings here on our website.

The tasting was heldin the DoubleTree’s Tea Lounge lobby. The audience will consistedof media from Ocean NET, GuangDong radio station, Food Talents, and many VIP Double Tree guests. More than sixty people ended up attending. It was a great turnout. 

Arabica Roasters Coffee’s General Manager, Stuart Eunson,givingan informative presentation on coffee and chocolate. Stuart’s presentation included information on chocolate & coffee history, agricultural practices and harvesting of both products, and in introduction to the coffees that were tasted that day. Stuart then turned the stage over to Chef Amy who blew the audience away with her demonstration of the making of her purple sweet potato truffle. Amazing. Just look at the pictures (and video) of the audience surrounding her table as she did the presentation. Chef Amy “knocked it out of the park”.


Truffles at DoubleTree by Hilton are pastry sweet made by Head Chef Amy the person in charge!


Guests enjoy the delicacy of manually extracted fresh ingredient made up lychee and creamy white chocolate truffles, and black sesame coated dark chocolate. Chef Amy also demonstrates how these snacks could be easily made at home as long all the mentioned ingredient are available. With chocolate Arabica Roaster is becoming more perfect than ever in bringing you quality coffee, cappuccino, latte, and chocolate. Perfect!

Guests capturing exciting moments at coffee and food gathering with their cameras and phones.

After the event, General Manager of Arabica Roaster, Stuart, had the opportunityto educate guests by explaining bean origins, describing various methods of making great single origin coffees, and demonstrated the use of the “French Press”. During this varietal tasting, we cupped Mexico Veracruz Huatusco High Grown coffee, Fair Trade, Indonesian Sumatran Mandheling coffee, and Ethiopian Sidamo, Grade 2 coffee. The guests thoroughly enjoyed the process.

At the same time the Summer Chocolate & Coffee Tasting were going on, there were also many other F&B activities going onassociated with the Food & Wine Experience, such as the fantastic bartenders show, chef competitions, wine seminar, and much more. Yu Xing encourages many guests and parties to continue enjoy their time at the bar’s lobby a… ???

Around the area, there were tons of other activities going on, such as the fantastic bartenders show, chef competitions, wine seminar, and much more. Yu Xing encourages many guests and parties to continue enjoy their time at the bar’s lobby as live bands performed and as auctioning took place. Guangdong International Volunteer service, which partners with different charity groups, has decided to donated portion of the proceeds to fulfill a charitable purpose. 



Coffee and chocolate are genuine lovers and share many similar traits, such as having tan or darker hues, slightly bitter, and flavorful. Like English-style tea that people consistantly consumed daily, coffee could also be consumed alone or in groups. Sipping coffee that is infused by the flavor of chocolate and eating dim sum is the best! Simply put, sugar, chocolate, and coffee share a natural bond.


Although some flavor combination that people has created in the past may be mysterious and subtle, but the marriage between coffee and chocolate is without a doubt produced agitation through the wonderful taste and smell it unleashed.

In the picture below, we have truffles (left) and Latte (right).

Enjoy a cup of Latte with lychee yoghurt molded within white chocolate.

  
Picture below depicts this wonderful serving of Purple Potato Truffle in Milk Chocolate along with a cup of Cappucino.

Last but not least, Black Sesame Truffles (Dark Chocolate) washed down with a sip of Espresso.

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