This Real Life Willy Wonka Will Show You Everything You Need To Know About Chocolate

You know we were all disappointed when we discovered that we would never be able to experience the Chocolate Factory in all its glory. While some kids definitely identified with the protagonist (who can resist those eyes?), I was one of the more honest ones, who knew that Augustus Gloop was definitely my soulmate.

If you thought you would never be able to take a tour with Willy Wonka think again! An incredible chocolatier is making all of our childhood (and adult) dreams come true! Choco-Story New York, created by pastry chef and chocolatier Jacques Torres, opened in March at Torres’ flagship sweets store in Manhattan.

From cacao beans to truffles, the history of chocolate has been curated inside New York’s first museum dedicated to the sweet treat.

The exhibition includes the early origins of chocolate from the Mayan civilization some 5,000 years ago, the tools used to create chocolate from the fermented cacao bean, and even special cups with a small bar inside to protect mustaches from hot chocolate.

“I love to transfer the love that I have for chocolate and the knowledge that I have for chocolates to whoever wants to learn about it,” Torres, known as Mr. Chocolate (yass man), told Reuters.

The French-born chef demonstrated how to make a chocolate truffle, pouring rich liquid chocolate into molds and filling it with a creamy, soft chocolate ganache. So not only do you come out of the tour with a knowledge of the history of the sweetest confectionary ever but you also come out with some practical hands-on experience that you can use to wow your significant other (parent, sibling, friend). Pretty neat huh?

If you happen to be in the Big Apple then make sure you head on over to this legendary tour, and live the Chocolate Factory experience. If you don’t, you know you’re gonna regret it!