Today we’d like to introduce you to Shweta Bajaj.
Hi Shweta, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As an immigrant from India who moved to the US in 2004 and with an education in Fashion Design, never in my wildest of dreams did I think of making chocolates. I had an urge to do something of my own and dabbled a bit in the fashion industry that I was most comfortable in. Then life happened, I had two kids and soon I became a homemaker taking care of the family. Fast forward to 2021, most of us are confined to our homes due to COVID lockdowns and the only source of entertainment for our family was experimenting with food and desserts. One fine evening, when I felt like having chocolate but I was also craving Indian desserts, the light bulb went on and the idea of making fusion-flavored chocolates was born. We experimented, had a lot of fun and tried some interesting combinations…. some were awesome and others still haunt me. We started finding our favorites and I started sharing some with family and friends. Soon my family and friends started encouraging me to start making and selling chocolates. At first, I shrugged it off, but the urge to do something that gave me the flexibility to be available for my family when needed led to the birth of Shweta’s Gourmet Chocolates.
I started with Indian fusion flavor chocolates that quickly became popular in the Indian community and then there was no looking back. I was on a roll and kept coming up with new flavors every holiday season. The next big release was Boozy Chocolates that included chocolate bars with liquor-infused fruits and nuts. We now have a wide range of chocolates ranging from Indian fusion flavors, liquor-infused flavors and everything in between to satisfy chocolate cravings of all. I am very passionate about what I do and not a moment goes by when I am not thinking about new flavor ideas. I hope everyone enjoys my chocolates as much as I love making them!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Working with chocolates is tricky, needs patience and sound technique. As a self-taught chocolatier, I had to go through hours of research and a ton of experimentation. Thanks to my family who happily became my guinea pig taste testers. They are a difficult crowd to please and they were quick to point out even the smallest of flaws. Although I was disappointed at first but it only made me work harder to find a solution and to make high-quality and flavorful chocolates. I recall a night when I was so frustrated with the batch that I wanted to throw in the towel. Fortunately, my husband believed in my efforts and spent hours late at night experimenting with me until we nailed down the process. Running a small cottage business while taking care of family has its own challenges. Carving out time to take care of production, marketing, website updates, juggling event schedules, etc. has been difficult.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Shweta’s Gourmet Chocolates LLC?
Shweta’s Gourmet Chocolates strives to create unique flavor combinations that have not been incorporated in chocolate before. We use top-shelf Belgian chocolates for our chocolate base and make scrumptious gourmet bars, barks and bonbons. We have a wide range of flavors that are released seasonally. Our Indian fusion range of chocolates includes crowd favorites ‘Rasmalai’ that is inspired by an Indian dessert of the same name and ‘Paan’ that has notes of rose, mint, fennel, betel leaf and about a dozen more ingredients to provide a delicate refreshing palate combined with the creaminess of chocolate. Our Boozy Chocolate range includes flavors like ‘Boozy Cherry Bourbon’ that includes cherries infused in top-shelf bourbon and ‘Rum Raisin’ that includes gold and dark raisins infused with rum with a combination of nuts. We also have a large variety of flavors for fruit lovers with Mango, Passion Fruit, Strawberry, Raspberry, Apricot, etc. included in our chocolates. There is something for nut lovers as well with flavors incorporating hazelnuts, pistachios, cashews and almonds in various combinations.
We also offer Roasted nuts to enjoy as a snack. Indian Masala Cashews with a blend of seventeen different spices is enjoyed by those who like it spicy. Honey Oregano roasted almonds offer a nice balance between heat and sweet.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Humans have a deep-rooted love for chocolate and we don’t see that fading away. Shweta’s Gourmet Chocolates will continue to do its bit to increase the love for chocolate by bringing new flavor profiles for all to enjoy.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shwetasgourmetchocolates.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shwetasgourmetchocolates2021/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shwetasgc
