It’s wild what can happen when you’re held up at home with a kitchen full of ingredients and way too much time on your hands. For Harshaa Jain, what started as a little lockdown boredom quickly spiralled into a full-on chocolate obsession. Fast forward a few months, and that casual experiment turned into Cavasa Chocolates – a brand that has everyone indulging.
Lockdown Love
“I never saw this coming,” Harshaa laughs, thinking back to those early days. While the rest of us were binge watching movies and attempting to master the perfect banana bread, she was elbow-deep in cocoa, melting, molding, and making magic during the COVID-19 lockdown. Eventually one day, it hit her – this wasn’t just a hobby anymore; it had potential. Friends and family couldn’t get enough of her creations, and before long, she was all in, ready to spread her love for chocolate.
A New Obsession
Much earlier, Harshaa had honed her pastry making craft at the School for European Pastry in Mumbai and then built her expertise working at various cafes in Chennai as well as the Sky Chef flight kitchen in Mumbai. “Honestly, chocolate was the last thing on my mind in the pastry world,” Harshaa admits. But in a timely return to her home city just before the lockdown, she spent the next few months at her parents’ place, experimenting with new recipes. As the lockdown dragged on, she found herself experimenting with flavors, and just like that, chocolate became her new obsession. And it’s evident that her heart beats for Chennai as she declares, “Seeing my hometown dig into my chocolates—it’s the best feeling ever. Keeps me hustling harder every day.”
Born out of Curiosity
Cavasa Chocolates wasn’t born from some grand plan – it was pure curiosity that eventually led to the birth of a brand that blends exquisite flavors in a bite. From day one, though, Harshaa knew she didn’t want to just make chocolate. Cavasa wasn’t just about taste – it was about telling a story with every bite. The name itself says it all-‘Cava’ stands for the euphoria food brings, and ‘Vasa’ comes from ‘Vyasa,’ meaning knowledge. Put them together, and you’ve got the joy and wisdom that only a perfect piece of chocolate can deliver. Cavasa Chocolates is all about quality, creativity, and keeping it real.
Making it Through the Challenges
Starting a chocolate business from scratch, especially from your kitchen, isn’t exactly a walk in the park. “I had no clue how tough it’d be,” Harshaa admits. Without the fancy equipment, nailing the perfect texture and consistency was a challenge. Then there was the whole certification process that was necessary and far from easy. And don’t even get her started on packaging – finding eco-friendly, premium-quality weather proof material! The Chennai heat didn’t help either, she explains, “We had to add thermal layers to our packaging just to keep the chocolates safe.” Despite all the hurdles, Harshaa pressed on, piecing together everything she needed to bring Cavasa Chocolates to life. Vikash was a huge part of this journey, handling logistics and sales so she could focus on her passion—creating chocolates. “He’s my team,” she shares, smiling. “He was selling more chocolates at exhibitions than I could!”
Expanding Range of Exotic Offerings
From spicy chili to tangy citrus, there’s something for everyone in the Cavasa basket. Harshaa started with three varieties of bars -the Masala Chai, Chilli, Sea Salt, Frozen Hazel. “My favourite is definitely Masala Chai,” she confides. “I just keep munching on it whenever I’m at the unit.” She slowly added two more, along with dragees, starting with just classic Almond dragees. “I had a very basic range-one dragee and five varieties of bars,” she recalls. But as demand grew, so did her offering, with new products like white chocolate and fruity flavours, diversifying the range to keep things fresh and exciting. And the presentation? Elegantly crafted.
Commitment to Purity
One of the cornerstones of Cavasa Chocolates is its commitment to health and quality. “We don’t add any sort of preservatives or ingredients to make it last longer or taste different,” Harshaa affirms. Instead, almost all flavourings are either sourced organically or made in-house, keeping the chocolates as clean and simple as possible. This commitment to purity extends to the shelf life as well. While Cavasa Chocolates have a certified shelf life of three months for its bars, Harshaa recommends customers enjoy them within one and a half to two months for the best experience. “I don’t want them pushing it to the third month,” she says, underlining her dedication to quality over quantity.
When the global cocoa shortage hit and prices shot up, Cavasa refused to compromise on quality. Harshaa and her team made the tough call to raise prices slightly and kept to their uncompromising standards of quality. “We joke that cocoa powder and butter are like gold dust now,” she laughs, but the truth is, those ingredients are priceless. Sourcing their cocoa from Europe, West Africa, and India, Cavasa is serious about its chocolate. The rich, dark flavors come from Karnataka and Kerala, while the smoother, milder dark chocolate is sourced from Ghana. And when it comes to milk and white chocolate? Only the best from Belgium will do.
Curating Experiences through Chocolates
As word got out and more people tasted the magic of Cavasa Chocolates, demand soared. But it’s not just about selling chocolates – Cavasa is all about creating an experience. Whether it’s personalised notes, premium gift-wrapping, or letting customers pick their ingredients, they’re all in on making every chocolate feel customised and special. As one gathers from Harshaa, one of the keys to Cavasa’s success is staying close to their customers. “I’m all about listening to what they have to say,” says Harshaa. By staying tuned in to feedback and doing some serious ground-level research, she’s been able to keep her chocolates top-notch, ensuring they meet and exceed expectations.
Harshaa’s journey with Cavasa Chocolates is proof that the sweetest things in life often come when you least expect them, but it does not happen by chance alone. With a commitment to quality, a flair for creativity, and an ever-growing love for chocolate, this creative entrepreneur has created a brand that’s a delight. And with the support of Vikash and a loyal customer base, Cavasa Chocolates is set to keep spreading joy, one delicious bite at a time.
To know more visit: https://www.cavasa.in
