The journey starts with learning about cocoa beans, the main ingredient of chocolate.
这项活动从了解巧克力主要原料可可豆开始。
'Inside, there are about 20 to 40 cocoa beans. And you see the white color here is actually the pulp on the outside of the bean…”
“里边，有大概20到40颗可可豆。你可以看到这里的白色，实际是豆子外边的黏浆。”
It’s all part of the annual chocolate festival held in McLean, Virginia. Visitors here can sample all kinds of sweets but on this table they can get a taste of the past along with their candy.Visitors see how cocoa nibs are ground on a heated stone called ’matarte’ with spices and other ingredients to produce a chocolate block.They learn how chocolate was consumed primarily as a beverage up to and through the 1880s before the first candy bar was manufactured and distributed.
这是弗吉尼亚州麦克莱恩市一年一度的巧克力节的一部分。参观者们在这里可以试吃各种各样的糖果，而在这张桌上，他们可以体验过去糖果的制作过程。参观者可以看到，为制作巧克力块，可可粒是怎样和调料以及其他原料一起，在一种叫matarte的热石上磨碎的。他们了解到，在第一个巧克力棒生产和发售之前，巧克力最初是当作饮料消费的，直到19世纪80年代结束。
'It is just a little too hard for us to eat like a candy bar. So in Colonial chocolate making, they would have taken chocolate blocks in this form and grate it to make fine chocolate powder.”Then the powder was mixed with hot water in a chocolate pot like this one.
“对我们来说，这个有点儿硬，不能像糖块一样吃。所以在殖民地的巧克力制作中，他们用这种方式，将巧克力块磨成细巧克力粉。”然后，在这种巧克力壶中，把巧克力粉和热水混合。
'We found an authentic colonial recipe, partnering with the folks at Colonial Williamsburg. The recipe dates back to the 1750s.And it is a recipe that actually documented nine different seasonings and spices in the recipe.”The drink made from the recipe was a pleasant surprise.
“我们与威廉斯堡殖民地的当地人合作，找到了一份可靠的殖民时期食谱。这份食谱可以追溯至18世纪50年代。在这份食谱中，记录了九种不同的佐料和调料。”按照这份食谱做出的饮品是一个意外惊喜。
'Oh, it’s delicious. It is very good. It’s very spicy and rich and not too sweet.It’s been great for the kids. They enjoy trying different chocolates and then learning about, you know, how their favorite treats are made. Very educational!”
“非常美味。非常好。口味浓郁醇厚，不太甜。对孩子们来说特别棒。他们非常享受尝试不同的巧克力，然后学习他们最喜欢的巧克力的制作方法。非常有教育性！”
In a separate room, visitors also have opportunities to taste and purchase chocolate products from local vendors. However, Lynn Heinrichs, the president of the Rotary Club of McLean, the host of the festival, says it’s not just about treats.
在一个单独的房间里，参观者也有机会从当地摊贩那里品尝和购买巧克力。不过，本次巧克力节的主办方麦克莱恩扶轮社主席Lynn Heinrichs说，这不仅仅是享用美食。
'The proceeds from this event will help fund not just our local projects but some international projects as well.For example, we have built a dental clinic in Swaziland, Africa.We also have the medical brigade, which is in Honduras, partners of surgery in Guatemala. We have bought computers for low income schools in Greece...”Heinrichs hopes the annual community event will help sweeten more lives than just those that taste the goods.
“这项活动的收入，不仅会资助本地的项目，也会资助一些国际性项目。例如，我们已经在非洲的斯威士兰建立了一家牙科诊所。我们还在洪都拉斯有一个医疗队，是危地马拉的外科手术合作伙伴。在希腊，我们为低收入学校购买电脑。”Heinrichs希望，这项每年一度的社区活动，不仅让品尝到巧克力的人感到甜蜜，更能让更多人的生活变得幸福。
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