77 Chocolate Republic Introduction
Arriving at the Chocolate Republic located in Bade, the exterior that you first see resembles a chocolate that has been split open, melting out rich chocolate sauce. This uniquely shaped building is constructed with a large amount of glass elements and was specially built by the Pingtung Ocean Life Museum's construction team, incorporating concepts of green energy and environmental protection by utilizing solar power, rainwater recovery systems, and a significant amount of natural light through glass to reduce electricity usage, achieving environmental benefits. It won the Golden Award for Architecture in 2012. Walking into the Chocolate Republic, explore the depths of chocolate that you’ve enjoyed since childhood. Have you truly understood its ingredients, health benefits, and how to choose good chocolate? At the Chocolate Republic, you can unlock this knowledge and learn about the history of cocoa beans, their growing environments, and related information. The entire museum is divided into indoor and outdoor areas, each with rich exhibition features. Within the museum, there are real cocoa trees planted. Cocoa trees are quite delicate plants that are very particular about temperature and humidity in their environment. The cocoa greenhouse, modeled after small farms in West Africa, uses a mixed cultivation approach that allows visitors to sense the growing environment, as the greenhouse requires an average annual temperature between 25-28°C and humidity of 80-90% for cocoa trees to produce high-quality cocoa beans under such strict conditions. Additionally, professional cocoa farmers are invited to conduct health checks on the cocoa trees. In the greenhouse, you can see cocoa flowers and cocoa pods growing on the cocoa trees, which will definitely overturn people's imagination of cocoa trees. The outdoor area of the museum features a children's graffiti wall, a tropical flower area, a temperate and cold-zone tree area, and a water-friendly pool. After playing in the water, you can use vouchers at the nearby Pizza container house for takeout drinks and light meals. Moreover, be sure not to miss the practical DIY classroom here; following the steps from pastry teachers, visitors can create unique shaped chocolates, making special cocoa memories whether with family, friends, or couples.
