A few short years ago, new mother Brigid Woolnough, turned an inquisitive mind and an interest in the chemistry of chocolate into a successful and innovative business – Kokopod.
As a new mum who wasn’t sure if she would return to school teaching, she started to explore the possibilities of chocolate: first as a much sought after wedding cake designer and then as a trained chocolatier.
Today her vision has grown to a retail range that is so good, her chocolate was included in gift bags for the G20 leaders.
We spoke with Brigid recently, about her love of the ‘science’ of chocolate, her unwavering commitment to sustainable practices and ethical ingredients and her continuing pursuit of learning.
Brigid trained at Melbourne’s highly esteemed Savour Chocolate and Patisserie School whilst juggling the push/pull as a new mother. She trained in every aspect of chocolate, its different applications and enjoyed how forgiving it was if you make a mistake, “you just melt it back down again – it’s not a high waste product” she joked. Brigid revel led in the “different tempering methods for different types of chocolate and the ability to be extremely creative”.
Personally she cooks everything from scratch and was determined to do the same with her chocolate products. She is conscious of the excessive ingredients in cheap chocolate that the body can’t process.
She also wanted the Kokopod brand to have integrity, “I use the Swiss Felchin brand, which has a much higher cocoa content and is committed to Fair Trade and sustainability. It is much more expensive and difficult to source, but it is a much better product”.
She continues her professional development every few months, training with some of the world’s most acclaimed chocolatiers at the Savour school, hoping to ‘keep ahead of the trends”. She trusts her own discerning palate when it comes to developing new and innovative flavours, but always with an understanding of the chemical composition of chocolate. She also sources local and free range whenever possible, uses recyclable packaging and is a passionate advocate for the over one hundred year old Felchin brand. Felchin follows strict guidelines for procuring cacao and works closely with third world farmers to acquire the highest quality cacao.
Kokopod has a wonderful range of tempting sweet confections for every type of chocolate lover. Those who like the earthiness of dark, the creaminess of milk and those who like their chocolate infused with bold and exotic flavours.
Smoky Black is a heady 72% dark couverture with a smattering of smoked sea salt, which leaves you speechless and is ideal for vegans and coeliacs. No wonder the Classic Macnuts are the most popular item – caramelized, roasted macadamias are coated in milk chocolate and dusted in fine cocoa powder. There is Popcorn and Pecan Rocky Road with vanilla marshmallow in smooth milk chocolate.
Chock-A-Block currently comes in 5 different flavours: Dark with Hazelnut and caramelized cocoa nibs, Dark with Orange, roasted Almond and caramelized nibs, organic Ginger nut in dark with roasted macadamias and nibs, Smooth milk couverture crowned with Leatherwood Honeycomb and Delightfully Turkish, milk topped of course with Turkish delight, roasted Almonds and dried rose petals.
There is Caramelized Coconut and Roasted Almond Bark and Butter Toffee Inclusion – butter toffee between encased between layers of either milk with roasted salted peanuts or dark with roasted almonds. Some Kokopods products are gluten free or egg free and there are no artificial colours, flavourings or preservatives.
Kokopod’s commitment to craftsmanship, ethical and sustainable ingredients means this is chocolate with character and no compromise when it comes to quality. Kokopod is a brand to watch as the future only holds bigger and better things – probably on the world stage.
Kokopod has created three exclusive gift boxes for ThisMagnificentLife Emporium that are ideal Christmas gifts for those you love or to just treat yourself.