Beirut, Dec 21 (IANS) The first chocolate museum in the Middle East opened in Lebanon on Friday.

The museum is already present in Brussels, New York, Paris, Mexico and Prague.

"Today we are opening it in Lebanon for the first time in this (Middle Eastern) part of the world," Mohamad Hashwe, head of the board of directors of the museum, was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

The museum contains 350 paintings and artefacts, telling the story of chocolate and the development of this industry over the years.

The museum also has a training centre to provide courses for those interested in chocolate manufacturing, said Hashwe.

--IANS soni/