Melbourne’s most renowned chocolatier, Arno Backes talks about the importance of chocolates

It isn’t time yet to write the obituary for chocolate, feels Melbourne’s most renowned chocolatier, Arno Backes. In Mumbai recently, Backes replied to a query about the falling reserves of cacao, saying, "People have traded in cacao beans for soya beans, but once they realise how important chocolate is, I am sure farmers will start growing it again. It’s a worrying thought but as long as I can buy a kilo of chocolate for five dollars, I don’t think we need to worry any time soon." Naysayers, take note. Cacao, ergo chocolate, is not yet a has-bean.