In her quest to enhance the successful production of hazelnuts, which she has been cultivating for over a decade, retired Branа Suvajac from Srbac came up with the idea of making homemade chocolates. These chocolates have quickly become favorites among dessert lovers.
Since her youth, Branа has loved baking and making sweets, and her years of culinary experience helped her venture into crafting a variety of unique chocolate delicacies that appeal to all generations.
“For a year now, I have been making handmade white, dark, and milk chocolates in various flavors and shapes. I started by adding roasted hazelnuts—ground or whole—and then introduced dried fruit, coffee, and various creams. I must admit, it’s not easy, and I am still perfecting my craft,” says Branа.
She showcases her products in the showroom of the Srbac Women’s Association, where she has been an active member for years. There is also significant interest from other communities, and her chocolates are now available in “Krajiška kuća” in Banja Luka and “Kuća Lijevča i Potkozarja” in Gradiška.
“The hardworking women of Srbac, whom I regularly meet with, encouraged me to try making chocolate with hazelnuts, and that’s how it all began. I make each chocolate by hand, and it usually takes me about half an hour to prepare and package them. I don’t use any machines—just bowls for melting ingredients over steam and molds for shaping. I usually produce small batches. My chocolates are not only handmade but also healthy, as they contain no preservatives, giving them a shelf life of four to six months,” Branа explains.
For birthdays, celebrations, and various events, people often order her chocolates with personalized messages. She even received a large order of small chocolates for a chess tournament. Children love treats shaped like bunnies, kittens, or bears, while among young adults and older customers, the most popular is the “Dubai” chocolate, for which she found a special recipe.
“I found the recipe online, and it wasn’t difficult to make. A woman from our town who had visited Dubai even brought me an original chocolate from there, and I was pleased to see that mine wasn’t much different—except that theirs is slightly creamier. I don’t make the traditional bar format because pistachio cream is quite expensive, so I produce smaller shapes. The smallest one costs 3.5 KM, while a slightly larger 95-gram package costs 5 KM. The prices of all chocolates depend on the weight and packaging, which can be quite costly,” says Branа.
The growing popularity of chili-infused chocolates
Another highly sought-after chocolate is the one infused with chili peppers, a treat that dates back to the time of the Aztecs and Mayans, who used chili to spice up their sacred cocoa drinks, calling them “the food of the gods.” Just as these flavors gradually conquered Europe and the world, Branа’s chocolates are becoming increasingly popular among Serbs abroad.
“Customers from Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and other countries regularly buy large quantities. A family from Denmark, along with their relatives from Nova Topola, frequently visits our showroom in Srbac, purchasing everything from sweets to souvenirs,” Branа notes.
Gold medal at a prestigious fair
The quality of Branа’s work was confirmed at the fifth “Harvests of Small Producers” fair, held in November last year at Delta Planet in Banja Luka, where her milk chocolate with raisins and roasted hazelnuts won a gold medal.
“Our association won a total of five gold medals, not just for my chocolate but also for spicy jams, honey, and gingerbread. Everything made by the hardworking women of Srbac carries significant value. Without their support, I wouldn’t have succeeded in this venture. Through numerous workshops, seminars, and gatherings, we come up with high-quality ideas, and the foundation of our work is preserving old crafts, traditions, and customs,” says Branа.
Hazelnut farming
In addition to chocolate-making, Branа has been growing hazelnuts for over ten years. She sells fresh and roasted hazelnuts while using part of the yield for her own products, including homemade hazelnut liqueur.
“I cultivate hazelnuts on a 1.5-hectare plot, with help from my family. It’s not enough to make a living from, but it provides a supplemental income alongside my pension. However, I would highly recommend regular hazelnut consumption, as they are rich in nutrients, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals,” Branа concludes.
Source: Glas Srpske
