Chocolate has a special place in everyone’s hearts and a small piece of chocolate can not
only sweeten your tongue but even brighten your day. World Chocolate Day is
celebrated today, July 7, all over the globe, making it the perfect excuse to
indulge in a bar of chocolaty goodness.
Goa loves its food, especially its sweets, and handmade,
artisanal chocolates seem to be moulding a market for themselves. Felix Vieira
and his wife, Rosy, from Siolim, started off with their brand, Vieira
Chocolates, nearly 12 years ago, when there were Indian and international brands
in the market. Over the years, he has seen an increase in demand as well as
competition. “Year by year, there is a lot of competition, which is very
healthy. Many are completing short term courses and entering the market as
local chocolatiers, which brings a variety in presentation and pricing,” says
Felix.
With their all-time favourite flavours being rum and raisin,
orange marmalade and fruit and nut, each flavour is colour coded for the
assortment. “We are full fledged in outlets during the festive season. During
monsoons, storage of chocolates becomes a problem and there is very limited
movement compared to the season,” adds Felix, who’s brand is open for business
throughout the year.
Tiffaney and her elder sister, Tatiana, from Aquem-Margao,
created the brand Ribboned and Ready, which includes custom-made cakes and
chocolates. Though the demand for cakes is higher compared to chocolates,
chocolates are a must for kids’ parties, they say. “We have a list of flavours
for customers to select from and we even are open to suggestions on new
flavours. Compared to earlier, it is now easier to to get your hands on
chocolate as a raw material. We receive clients from all over Goa as we have a
Facebook page and also through client recommendation,” adds Tiffaney Barros.
When Chocolate Man’s Production by Savio Monteiro opened in
2009, it was a one-of-a-kind outlet that showcased a variety of chocolates.
Trained at IHM, Goa and after working in Australia and UK, Savio returned home
to bring a change in the chocolate industry. “There is a growth in the
chocolate industry in Goa as now people are becoming more aware of the benefits
in comparison to traditional sweets, with product awareness and knowledge,”
says Savio, from Parra.
Another interesting feature that was brought to the buffet table
at weddings and parties was the chocolate fountain. “With the help of the
chocolate fountain, which we supply for weddings, catering functions and
birthday parties as a rental arm of our business has gained great popularity and
tempted Goans to love chocolate. There is always room for experimenting with
the chocolate, which is very adaptable and can be used in different ways,
keeping in mind the product knowledge being available to the consumer,” says
Savio.
Donabelle D’Souza from Chicalim knows the 16 flavours of her
chocolates by heart. In the industry for over five years now, she caters to a
select clientele as she single-handedly makes chocolates and packages them for
delivery with very little time for last minute orders. “I have a chocolate
exhibition at my home before Diwali, where everything is made of chocolate;
from flowers, birds and candles to car racing circuits and Merry-go-round
gardens. I make assorted chocolates like milk chocolate, white chocolate, dark
chocolate, hazelnut, crackles, butterscotch, truffles, sea salt chocolate and
even marzipan,” explains Donabelle.
She receives pre orders only during the festive season as she
caters to corporates who purchase hampers from her. “I only use chocolate from
Singapore and design my own boxes, which come in from Mumbai. I even cater to
weddings with chocolate take-aways. From one corporate itself, I get an order
of 40 kgs of chocolate. The demand for chocolates is increasing and once the
clients know what they like, the word spreads,” says Donabelle.
This
World Chocolate Day, celebrate the day by sharing a bar of your favourite
chocolate with your loved ones.