Jacques Torres Opens Choco-Story New York, Manhattan's First Chocolate Museum

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A new museum has opened its doors in SoHo and if you haven't seen it, you might have smelled it.

Manhattan's first ever chocolate museum is now open for business.

Choco-Story New York, The Chocolate Museum and Experience with Jacques Torres, focuses on the origin and evolution of chocolate.

PHOTOS: Inside Manhattan's First Chocolate Museum

"My goal is to teach what chocolate is," Torres told CBS2's Raegan Medgie. "I don't think my customers understand what it takes to make chocolates."

The 5,000-square-foot museum features authentic artifacts, nine chocolate tastings and also hosts bon bon-making classes. There's also a kids' corner where children can dig for chocolate-related "artifacts" in a sand pit or run their own chocolate shop.

The journey starts with the history of chocolate making, with the first demonstration showing how the ancient Mayans created the delicious confection.

Visitors are then given the chance to taste-test before they're led to the second demonstration that showcases how Torres creates his bon-bons.

Torres teamed up with Eddy Van Belle, who founded four other Choco-Story museums around the world.

"I make my own chocolate, I grow my own beans and now I have something about the history of chocolate," Torres told 1010 WINS. "I feel I try to go as far as I can into this profession."

The famed chocolatier said opening the museum was a natural next step for him.

"Just discover it, enjoy it and go for the journey," Torres said.

Next week the museum will host a new hands-on experience where visitors can make chocolate bars and lollipops with Torres for an additional cost.

The museum is located at the Jacques Torres Chocolate shop at 350 Hudson St.

The cost of admission for adults is $15. For ticket information and more, click here.