雷丁大学的科学家利用在英国伯克郡种植的可可豆制作了一块完全由英国材料组成的巧克力，以庆祝该校百年校庆[1]。这项创举标志着近一个世纪以来，英国首次用本土可可制作巧克力，距离1932年英国女王作为六岁儿童获得的历史上唯一一块此类巧克力已相隔久远[1]。
当前仅生产了6块限量版巧克力[1]。雷丁大学国际可可隔离中心拥有超过300种可可植物，处理全球97%的可可植物国际流动[1]。参与项目的研究人员表示，"从豆荚到豆粒再到巧克力，整个过程都在雷丁完成，这令人惊叹"[1]。尽管英国巧克力市场规模达104亿英镑，但完全依赖进口可可[1]。单个可可豆荚需要6个月才能生长[1]。
Scientists at the University of Reading have produced an entirely British chocolate bar using cocoa beans cultivated in Berkshire, marking a remarkable achievement in domestic cocoa production.[1] The chocolate was created to commemorate the university's centenary, representing only the second time in modern history that a chocolate bar has been made entirely from British-sourced materials.[1] The first such occasion occurred in 1932, when a six-year-old Queen received a chocolate bar made from cocoa grown in a British glasshouse by the Rowntree company.[1]
The initiative highlights the university's critical role in cocoa preservation and global supply chain management.[1] The University of Reading's International Cocoa Quarantine Centre houses over 300 cocoa plant varieties and handles approximately 97 percent of international cocoa plant movement worldwide.[1] Currently, only six limited-edition chocolate bars have been produced from the harvest.[1] Each cocoa pod requires six months to mature, and the white flesh surrounding the beans carries a flavor reminiscent of lychee.[1] Despite the UK chocolate market being valued at £10.4 billion, the country remains entirely dependent on imported cocoa.[1]
Maha Khan, involved in the project, reflected on the process by stating: "It has been amazing to follow the entire chocolate-making process, from pod to bean to bar, without leaving Reading."[1]