Ep 50.1: Ning-Geng Ong (Founder, Chocolate Concierge & Culture Cacao)

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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