Love chocolate? Love Sloane – festival to honour achievement

25 June 2014

DO you love chocolate?

Do you love it enough to wonder who came up with the delicious recipe in the first place?

Believe it or not the man who invented chocolate was born on the shores of Strangford Lough and later this year will be remembered at a major chocolate and fine food festival in his home town of Killyleagh.

Hans Sloane, one of Northern Irelands most famous legends, was a scientist and physician born in Killyleagh in 1660.

He died in 1753, but his memory still lives on because in addition to being an acclaimed physician and scientist he was also the man who created chocolate.

At first he longed to use chocolate for medical purposes, but found it was too bitter. Sloane then found a way to make chocolate sweeter by creating a recipe that involved milk and sugar.

This recipe was eventually used to make Cadbury’s chocolate after Sloane shared his recipe with the Cadbury brothers.

The Sloane 350 Chocolate and Fine Food Festival happens every year to celebrate Sloane’s famous discovery. This year it will take place on September 19-21 and includes activities for the whole family. One of the highlights of the festival will be the Chocolate Ball on Friday, September 19

In addition to the festival there will be a Hans Sloane VIP (Visit be Inspired Participate) art competition judged by Alan Beers, Deepa Mann-Kler and Leo Casement.

For further information go to www.hanssloane.com

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