Imported matcha from Japan, local raspberries and, of course, chocolate have resulted in a luxury treat with all profits going to a local charity,
Waimea College Year 13 students, Hinako (Hina) Hayama and Antonia Sepúlveda have produced 2,000 chocolates for their Young Enterprise business, Komatchawa. Instead of keeping any of the profit, they are donating it all to Big Brothers Big Sisters Nelson Tasman.
Hina grew up with matcha in Japan and, even though it is an increasingly popular drink in New Zealand, it isn’t quite how she remembers it, so decided to incorporate it into their school business project.
“In Japan we have traditional matcha chocolates and I wanted to show that it isn’t just a drink.”
The pair imported Uji matcha from Japan for its authentic taste and began experimenting, which Chilean-born Antonia says required “so much tasting” every weekend. The matcha was matched with 54 per cent dark Belgian chocolate because Kiwis love chocolate so much, and local raspberries made into a ganache with white chocolate.
They tested their chocolate creations by giving out samples at The Nelson Market, as well as to teachers and students.
Komatchawa was created by blending the Japanese greeting konnichiwa with matcha, while their business slogan is ‘taste good, does good and it’s good for you’.
Along the way, they learnt about perseverance, especially when it came to finding a company to make and package the chocolates.
“We’ve had challenges,” Hina admits. “We contacted so many companies that rejected us.”
Their saviour was Nelson-based Aroha Chocolate, which took their ingredients and recipe to produce packaged chocolates, ready to market. The pair say they are grateful for the company’s support.
The end result “tastes amazing” and is destined as a “luxury treat” due to the expensive ingredients used in the recipe.
Their challenge now is to sell the chocolates and handing all the profits to Big Brothers Big Sisters – a charity they chose because it works with young people.
“I think young people are the future of Nelson,” Hina explains.
Now, the pair intend to approach local businesses in the hope their packaged chocolates will be bought as corporate gifts. They will also have them for sale at the Big Brothers Big Sisters gala on 28 August and they can be found on Instagram at komatchawa_nelson or by emailing komatchawa@gmail.com.
