Vinnis Homemade Chocolates

I started making chocolates right here in Powai. Vinnis Homemade Chocolates isn't a big factory or a shop in a mall. It’s a small operation where I spend most of my time in the kitchen. The whole house usually smells like cocoa and sugar, which I suppose is a good thing. I don't have a bunch of machines; I do most of it by hand, from melting the bars to wrapping the final pieces in colored foil. My kitchen table is often covered in molds and stray bits of nuts or dried fruit. Sometimes a batch doesn't set right because the weather in Mumbai is so humid, and I have to start all over again. It’s frustrating, but that’s how it is when you’re doing it yourself without fancy climate control. I get orders from neighbors or people who’ve heard about me through word of mouth. I don't have fancy packaging, just simple boxes and ribbons I buy from the local market down the road. It’s a bit of a mess sometimes, with chocolate smudges on my apron and flour on the floor by the end of the day. People come by the house to pick up their gifts or treats. It’s a quiet way to earn a living, away from the main road. I don't have a big staff, just me and occasionally a family member helping with the wrapping when things get really busy. It’s not perfect, but it’s real and it’s made with a lot of patience.