A “MOUND” of cocoa beans and a three-dimensional chocolate wall will form part of York’s latest visitor attraction where finishing touches are currently being made.

Prop makers Paragon Creative, based in Elvington, are creating parts of Chocolate – York’s Sweet Story, including the thousands of cocoa beans, which will stand at the foot of an interactive table, which guides the visitor through the process of making chocolate and represents the raw material. Each bean has been painted by hand, taking about 32 hours.

Paragon has been sub-contracted to do most of the set production by museum designers MET Studio of London, which has been appointed to design the overall package.

Paragon is also making the interactive table, two reception desks and another table in the shape of a bar of chocolate and a tropical tree with cocoa husks at the base of it. MDM Props, of London, has also created a 3D chocolate wall.

The attraction, to open on March 31, will demonstrate the journey of chocolate from Central America’s rainforests to York, including memories from the people of York and generations of secrets from the families that founded the confectionery companies Rowntree’s, Terry’s and Craven’s.