AU2010 - The Rocks Aroma Festival

Does “Have a drink with Mona Lisa” sound familiar to you?

 

 

The above pictures are among the many that were circulating through emails all around the world, featuring the incredible 3604-cup Mona Lisa coffee sculpture that achieved a Guinness World Record. And guess where was that?

 

 

Yes, it was part of The Rocks Aroma Festival 2009 in Sydney. And for this year, Aroma Fest was back on the 25th of July!!

 

 

Considered a divine world of coffee, tea, chocolate and spice, visitors (or rather coffee, tea, chocolate and spice lovers) are invited to explore the divine taste sensations during the festival. Separated into four unique destinations, this festival included The Oasis, The Orient, The Latin Quarter and The Continent.

 

 

During our visit, we started off by visiting the Latin Quarter, where one could soak up the colour and vibrancy of Latin American with Guatemalan roasts, chocolates from Peru and Bolivia, and high-energy capoeira.

 

 

As we walked past the Museum of Contemporary Art, …

 

 

… we arrived at The Continent, an European-style piazza with Italian blend coffee, artisan chocolates, hand-picked olives and music from the quirky Barons of Tang.

 

 

Further down the road at Campbell Cove, was where The Orient was located.

 

 

Here, visitors get to sample herbal teas, Indonesian coffee and chai, pick up exotic spices and catch an explosive drumming performance by Taikoz.

 

 

Moving on…

 

 

… our last stop was at The Oasis, …

 

 

… a magical and exotic land with Turkish coffee apple tea, gozleme, belly dancing, whirling dervishes …

 

 

… and camel rides!!

 

 

Walking along George Street back into Circular Quay, …

 

 

… we came across, possibly, the most interesting (and cutest?!?!) stalls of the whole festival, Naked Berry …

 

 

… and My Little Cupcake!!

 

 

 

I suppose, the best thing about this festival was, visitors get to try cups of coffee, tea and hot chocolate for only $2 (instead of the usual $3, $4, $5 or even $10). But in order to attract more customers, some stalls did offer free sampling, such as Bondi Chai Latte …

 

 

… and Disaster Bay Chillies (although not really a drink).

 

 

 

Anyway, putting food and drinks aside, the actual (or rather main) reason why we visited the festival this year was for the coffee sculpture, as the Aroma team attempts to break their Mona Lisa world record!!!

 

 

Thus, the Grinders Coffee and Riverina Fresh milk presented their Masterpiece, …

 

 

… a bigger and better 5200-cup Marilyn Monroe sculpture!!

 

 

Ranging from short blacks to flat whites, the 5.3 x 6.5 metre sculpture was expected to be recognised as a new world record.

 

 

Let’s see what other sculptures they will come up with during the Aroma Fest next year, scheduled to be held on the 31st of July 2011!!