.webp "Ifshana Feroz, Chocolate maker of Kashmir")
Onika Maheshwari/ New Delhi
Chocolate is a universal favourite. Associated with love, health, and romance, the fanciful food has also created a cottage industry across the country with the makers using social media to innovate and sell handmade chocolates all over.
Chocolate also caught the imagination of Kashmir's Ifshana Feroz, an MSc student living in srinagar, who is a self-taught chocolate maker and prides in being called Kashmir's first floral chocolate maker.
She sells her chocolates through her popular Instagram page, “Choco Charms”, which has more than 12 thousand followers. If you are a regular on Instagram, you must have seen her page named Choco Charms. She is known for her unique floral customized chocolates, nut-stuffed chocolate dates, coconut truffles, and more.
"Chocolates have a magical way of winning hearts over. They are not only delicious, but are also universally loved by both children and adults. Whether you choose to give them to your furry cousin or your closest friend, these sweet gifts are guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone's face," she told Awaz-The Voice.
Ifshana’s handmade Eid hampers that featured three delightful varieties of chocolates - dark, milk, and white – were sold like hot cakes. "And for those who love chocolates with a little crunch, we have added premium dry fruits to them. The box also includes chocolate-coated dates and coconut truffles, ensuring a varied and delightful chocolate experience," she said.
Inspired by her mother, she was interested in innovating recipes since the age of 9. When she started, she was struggling with many things, but she felt comfortable making recipes and working with the ingredients.
She said; "I realised that the photos of my customised floral chocolates were getting a good response from fellow Instagrammers, people outside of my immediate circle. So I started investing more time into styling and customising, and, making chocolates beautiful.
“Later, I streamlined my content and posted more chocolates. That's how I built it from scratch. More people started following me for the pictures of chocolates and started ordering. I had always dreamt of starting my own business. When I got the opportunity to start my own business, I invested the tuition fees that I earned from teaching students.
"For me, making chocolate is magical! It helps me relax and explore my creativity. And that's one thing about it, I always say - it's so fascinating how you turn chocolate into something so beautiful," she said.
Recently Ifshana started making customised chocolates. This was an instant and a huge hit. It has been more than five months that she is overwhelmed by the demand for these through social media.
Her parents support her.
Ifshana said that she wants people not to always be looking for jobs and gain some skills. ”A person should focus on himself and acquire some kind of skill.”
"Unlike the chocolates available in the market, our products are always fat-free and low-sugar," he said. Featuring luscious coverture chocolate dates filled with nut stuffing, complemented by a velvety hazelnut center and a chocolaty exterior.
Ifshana Feroz's story is not just the success of a chocolate chef, but it is also a symbol of the growing wave of youth entrepreneurship in the Kashmir Valley. From a sensitive region like the valley, where challenges are often high, it is inspiring to see a young woman turn her passion into a business and make a mark with a brand like "Choco Charms".
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This example shows that Kashmiri youth are now moving away from traditional paths and becoming self-reliant in creative fields and contributing towards economic development. Many youths like Ifshana are creating new opportunities for self-employment with the help of their skills and digital platforms, which is a sign of positive change in the socio-economic scenario of the valley.
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