Ep 50.1: Ning-Geng Ong (Founder, Chocolate Concierge&Culture Cacao) - a podcast by Ling Yah
from 2023-12-13T20:10:48.992280
Part 1 of STIMY's episode with Ning-Geng Ong - a farmer, chocolate marker, flavour fanatic and founder of Chocolate Concierge & Culture Cacao, where he makes incredible single-origin Malaysian chocolate.
In this episode, Ning shares his journey from majoring in physics and computer science, to founding a business in chocolate making. In particular, what it is like working with the indigenous community (including stories involving tigers, a durian thief and a murder!).
Highlights:
- 2:31: Loving the outdoors (the dangers of being a boy scout!)
- 5:52: Backpacking in Europe
- 6:59: Doing programming work
- 11:53: Diving into the world of fermentation
- 17:37: Why chocolate making stood out
- 21:39: Cocoa seeds taste like.. Unicorn milk?!
- 24:26: Obsessing over creating Malaysian single origin flavour
- 25:08: Chocolate-making process
- 26:33: Creating the universe
- 27:08: Why Ning struggled to find reliable cocoa beans
- 30:13: Starting Culture Cacao
- 32:11: Living with the Semai community
- 38:38: Tigers
- 40:15: Durian thief!
- 44:17: Not having a contractual arrangement with the indigenous community
- 49:08: Struggling to get cocoa beans from the indigenous community
- 50:52: Giving up?
Stay tuned for PART 2 of Ning's episode, coming out this Wednesday!
📍Show notes: www.sothisismywhy.com/50-1
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