The Imhoff Foundation
In December 2000, Hans Imhoff established the charitable Imhoff Foundation. In doing so, he turned his desire to do good in his home town into reality.
Time travel of cocoa the new exhibition
A sweet journey through the centuries
The new exhibition "Time travel of cocoa"
The Chocolate Museum Cologne has opened an exciting new chapter. After setting a new visitor record in 2024 with over 705,000 guests, we are continuing our success story. Since June 24, 2025, the comprehensively renovated permanent cultural-historical exhibition awaits you: "Cocoa's Journey through Time".
From the beginnings to the present day: experience 5,000 years of cocoa history
The new exhibition invites you on an exciting journey of discovery through over 5,000 years of cocoa history. It starts with the origins in Ecuador and takes you all the way to modern chocolate production. Along the way, you will learn how cocoa has developed from a simple drink to a globally appreciated "Genussmittel". Cocoa becomes tangible not only as a foodstuff, but also as an important cultural and economic asset.
Multimedia and profound: The facets of cocoa
Your journey through time begins with the ancient American cultures of Central America, where cocoa was used as a drink, currency and even as an offering. The journey continues through the colonial era, a period in which exploitation and forced labor on cocoa plantations reveal dark sides of history. The exhibition does not omit these critical aspects, but encourages reflection.
In Europe's courtly world, cocoa became a true luxury good, served in fine porcelain and silver for queens and aristocrats. Find out how chocolate found its place in European culture as a medicine, status symbol and fashion phenomenon.
Everything changed with industrialization: machines, brands and mass production made chocolate accessible to everyone. The triumphal march of chocolate bars began, accompanied by clever advertising strategies and new target groups. Of particular interest is the changing role of women, both as consumers and as workers - for example the famous "Stollwerck girls".
Accompanied by over a hundred historical exhibits and a modern exhibition design, the "Time Travel of Cocoa" is an experience for all the senses - informative, moving and highly topical.
The Chocolate Museum: an all-encompassing experience
The museum has been continuously developing since 2018. Highlights such as the glass chocolate factory, where you can experience live how chocolate is made and meet the Maître Chocolatier, or the immersive experience "Chocolate is a feeling" make your visit to the museum unique.
The legendary chocolate fountain, which continues to fulfill sweet dreams on its golden plateau, remains a special attraction.
The Cologne Chocolate Museum combines history with the present, pleasure with responsibility and emotion with information. It invites guests of all ages to discover chocolate in a whole new way.
Visit the new exhibition "Time travel of cocoa" and embark on a delightful search for traces through the millennia.
This post was written by:
Astrid Gebhardt
I'm Astrid and I've been working in marketing at the Chocolate Museum for more than 10 years. It's one of the nicest places to work in Cologne and there are always great stories to tell about cocoa and chocolate. Where else can you get such a great view of the Rhine right from your desk?
