Chocolate, Tea and Coffee Festival opens in Doha

The first edition of  Qatar’s Chocolate, Tea and Coffee Festival (CTCF) was inaugurated at the Hotel Park – Sheraton on Thursday.The festival, which continues until February 3, brings together more than 40 exhibitors who are displaying and providing free tastings of their finest chocolate, teas and coffee while introducing the latest award-winning technological products, the organisers have said in a statement.The opening night attracted more than 5,000 people and featured different live presentations and classical performances as well as a painting competition hosted by renowned Qatari Fahad al-Maadeed, the statement noted.The opening ceremony was attended by Ahmed al-Obaidli, director of exhibitions at Qatar Tourism Authority; Axel Wabenhorst, Australian ambassador to Qatar; Omran al-Sherawi, chairman of Four and One – a leading business agency that is organising the event; Fernando De Guama, CEO of Four and One, and other dignitaries. Inaugurating the festival, SNS chief executive officer Saleh al-Eida urged the organisers to make the event an annual celebration with a focal point for culture, business and tourism.Speaking at the event, Sherawi said: “The festival marks the beginning of a long story in the development of the industry in the country. CTCF will not only create more awareness about the beverages but also help introduce new variants to the delights of consumers in the country.”De Guama added, “While the festival is professional in nature, it is albeit designed to ensure that all attendees witness 10 days of fun-filled activities. There will be ongoing live entertainment, a bloggers’ lounge and various competitions involving professionals and members of the public. The 10-day entry-free festival remains open from 5pm until midnight.