Coopers Fudge Chikkis

We have been here in Lonavala for a long time now. It’s just a small place where we spend most of our day making fudge and chikkis. The kitchen is always warm because of the big stoves we use. You can smell the chocolate and the nuts from the street. We started out small and stayed that way mostly. We don't use fancy machines for everything, a lot of it is just done by hand, stirring big pots until our arms get tired. The weather in Lonavala can be quite damp, especially in the monsoon, which makes the chikki making a bit harder, but we manage. People stop by on their way to or from Mumbai or Pune. It’s a busy little spot. We don’t have any big corporate office or anything, just the shop and the back area where we work. Sometimes the lines get a bit long on weekends and we have to tell people to wait, which they usually don't mind. We just try to make enough for everyone. The walnut fudge is something we make every single day. We use simple boxes and paper. We aren't trying to be the biggest shop in town, just a place that does its thing and stays open. The floors need sweeping all the time because of the sugar. It’s hard work but it’s what we do.