The journey starts with learning about cocoa beans, the main ingredient of chocolate.

“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 beans," a demonstrator holding a cocoa pod explains.

It’s all part of the annual chocolate festival held in McLean, Virginia. Visitors here can sample all kinds of sweets, but at this table they can get the taste of the past along with their candy.

Visitors see how cocoa nibs are ground on a heated stone called a metate 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 1880’s, before the first candy bar was manufactured and distributed.

“It is just a little too hard for us to eat like a candy bar. So in Colonial chocolate making, they would take chocolate blocks in this form and grate it to make fine chocolate power."

Then the powder was mixed with hot water in a chocolate pot like this one.

“We found an authentic colonial recipe partnering with the folks at Colonial Williamsburg. The recipe dates back to the 1750s. Nine different seasonings and spices are included in the recipe.”

The drink made from the recipe was a pleasant surprise.

“It is delicious. It is very spicy, rich and not too sweet. It’s been great for the kids. They enjoy trying different chocolates and learning about how their favorite treats are made. Very educational."

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 that hosted the festival says, it's not just about treats.

“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 a medical brigade, which is in Honduras... 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.