All for the love of chocolate

PETALING JAYA - If you are a chocolate lover, then you will love South-East Asia's first ever museum that pays homage to what some call the "food of gods".

Located in the heart of the industrial zone in Kota Damansara, the Chocolate Museum is built by DR Group Holdings Sdn Bhd on a 1.8ha plot. Though having already received 50,000 visitors since January 2012, it was only officially opened by Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz yesterday.

Driven by a deep love for chocolates, DR's group managing director Datuk Dahlan Rashid said he would expand the RM1mil (S$386,000) museum by another 1.1ha, as well as plant more cocoa trees around it.

"I am very passionate in what I do," said Dahlan, who also planned to organise chocolate-making classes for children and open a chocolate academy in the near future.

DR Group is the producer of home-grown chocolate brands such as Danson, Fidani and Millton.

The interior of the museum is filled with maps, illustrations and interactive displays to enhance visitors' experience.

Chocolate making equipment is also on display so that people would understand the chocolate-making process.

"Many visitors were intrigued by the fact that cocoa was discovered so many years ago," said Dahlan. "And there have been many requests from school and public communities to visit the museum to learn more about chocolates and its history."

Nazri said he was looking forward to ensuring the museum helped boost Malaysia's popularity as a tourist attraction.

"Hopefully, the museum will help Malaysia become one of the world's best cities for shopping," he added.

The museum is at 2, Jalan Teknologi 3/5, Taman Sains Selangor 1, and is open daily from 10am to 5pm. Admission is free.