Of all the complaints launched against Beijing by my female friends, the only thing that comes up as often as the lack of acceptable men is the lack of good chocolate. So noble a confection, more than mere nectar or ambrosia, the true food of the gods has somehow been relegated in China to little more than a tasty lick off the top of a Pocky stick. Thankfully for the capital’s chocolate aficionados, one Beijing woman, Elyse Ribbons, has decided to take matters into her own hands. In retaliation to the chocolate shortage depriving tastebuds around town, Ribbons founded the capital’s own Chocolate Appreciation Society—Chocojing.

The group brings together friends interested in the sweet side of life. “[We are] a group of chocolate friends that get together whenever possible to collectively gorge on premier cocoa products from all over the world,” she says. Meetings are held roughly every six weeks to two months, and the club itself is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization that works with chocolate shops, cafés, hotels and distributors to keep prices for chocolate tastings as low as possible. “One of the club’s fundamental goals is to try to remain as open to Beijing plebians as we possibly can,” says Ribbons. “Whenever possible, we attempt to keep admission prices down around just ¥50.”

For those for whom ¥50 is a bit too rich, Ribbons is always on the look out for volunteers whose help allows them to gorge gratis.

One thing Chocojing is not, Ribbons insists, is another networking event.

“This really is a group for chocolate lovers and aficionados,” she says. “It is not some headhunting career event. The event may lead to friendships down the line, but we would much rather that a person brings an appetite than 400 business cards. And whatever they say about the effects of chocolate, it’s not a place to pick up chicks, either.”

By Jonathan Haagen