Chocolate Begins at the Harbour

Cocoa beans grow in tropical regions. After being harvested, they were traditionally packed into jute sacks and transported to Europe by ship. The Port of Hamburg was an important destination for these shipments.

From the late 19th century onwards, Hamburg developed into an important trading hub for cocoa. Large quantities of cocoa beans were stored in the Speicherstadt, which was built specifically for storing imported goods. From there, the beans were sorted and transported to their next destination.

Through Hamburg, cocoa reached roasting companies and chocolate manufacturers across Germany and Europe. The Port of Hamburg therefore became an important link between the origin of the cocoa beans and the finished chocolate.