Yasmin had been experimenting with chocolate making as a hobby, but after the birth of her first child seven years ago, she decided to turn her passion into a business and her very own Sweet Pea and Poppy brand was born.
“I love working with different textures and flavours. I always say chocolate is my artistic medium, it’s that beautiful balance between art and science – the art of choosing flavours and the science of getting it right, getting the temper correct, making sure that the flavours balance and that the chocolate idea in theory works,” Yasmin said.
With a growing list of national stockists and the exciting prospect of expanding into the international market, Yasmin loves to share her success through collaboration with other local businesses and her chocolate range incorporates wine, gin, liqueur, fruit, nuts and native ingredients that showcase the Murrumbateman region’s best produce and heritage.
“I love our truffle range. We do a beautiful espresso martini truffle – that would be my favourite – we use a locally sourced caramelised vodka in that one; I also love our Persian Summer Bar because it’s just so much fun and joy in every bite and it contains Turkish delight, raspberry, lychee, pistachio and rose, it’s our bestseller.”
As she builds her thriving business along-side her growing family, Yasmin is an enthusiastic advocate for establishing female-led businesses in regional areas, and a proud employer of other regional women.
“Living and working in a regional community really is the best, I moved across the border to NSW almost two years ago and at that time I was completely blown away by the collaboration and sense of community in our region,” Yasmin said.
“One of the greatest things that I get to do is work along-side a team of passionate and extraordinary women. Our team happens to be an all female team – not by design but just how it is – and we love it, our team brings incredible insights, capability and experience to their roles.”
The Murrumbateman Chocolate Company is in the process of expanding thanks to $120,000 from the NSW Government to upgrade the chocolate production area, create a dedicated packaging room with dispatch area, establish an onsite office, and purchase new manufacturing and packaging equipment, shelving and fittings.
The expansion will also create six new local jobs, and Yasmin is keen for the team to grow their skills across the end-to-end process of production, inventory, dispatch and invoicing.
“We’re on our way and we do love that we are able to offer an employment opportunity to locals and we hope to be able to expand the depth and breadth of the work that we offer as well.”
The upgrades will also see the popular café establish an outdoor deck overlooking a peaceful pond and rolling hills just in time for spring, securing the Murrumbateman Chocolate Company’s spot as a favourite destination on the Yass Valley gourmet wine and food tourism trail.