small business highlight Archives

Hot Chocolate Bomb Kits

Right now, they offer 4 different Hot Chocolate Bomb Kits – Grinch, Vegan, Unicorn, and Bear options. Plus, highly customizable with the type of chocolate and hot chocolate mix.

We got sent the bear kit and it’s absolutely adorable. It’s a great family activity and the kids will love to see their Hot Chocolate Bombs go BOOM. I love the dark chocolate chocolate and the hot cocoa mix!

If you don’t need a whole kit, they do offer the items separately like the moulds.

Starting Cogo BOOM during a global pandemic

With 2020 being a slower and stressful year, a lot of small businesses have popped up. I love seeing the creativity, the ups, and the downs. It’s stressful running a business especially when there are external factors beyond control.

“The hardest part about running our business through a pandemic would be the shipping times and delivery times. We ship our products via Canada Post and there has been some delays due to high volumes of shipments due to online shopping. That’s why we recommend everyone to shop early so their product will arrive on time! Luckily for our local customers we do have free pick up in the Victoria and 41st area in East Vancouver, B.C.” says the owners of Cogo BOOM.

Of course, it’s all not sad. Customer feedback keeps them going, that why feedback and reviews are so so important for small businesses.

“What makes us happiest is when people enjoy assembling the bombs. It’s not about perfection, it’s about having fun. It’s about the whole experience. From opening the kit and seeing all the possibilities, to pouring the hot milk over it and seeing your creation melt into deliciousness. There’s nothing more satisfying to us than to hear people say, “that was fun!”.”says the owners of Cogo BOOM.

What’s next?

Cogo BOOM will be launching a lot of new products in 2021. There will be new hot cocoa flavours such as lavender hot cocoa and matcha white Chocolate hot cocoa. They are also experimenting with a Detox Masala Chai Cocoa Mix and among many other flavours. There will also be new kits and new moulds. Make sure to follow them on Instagram for the latest information.

Teapurin is an online-based business on Instagram selling and delivering premium Japanese pudding in Greater Vancouver. “Purin” is Japanese for pudding. Owner and operator – Jessica specializes in tea-flavoured pudding, thus how the name came to be.

We chatted with Jessica to find out more about Teapurin as we absolutely love her desserts. It’s really one of the best in the city and I hope it continues to grow.

Secret to Teapurin

They make purin rich in tea flavour by using high-quality tea imported from Japan. For example, they only uses ceremonial matcha instead of baking matcha in the matcha purin. Then they pair it with simple local ingredients to get the quality. There are no artificial flavouring, colouring additives or preservatives in these tea purin.

The regular lineup includes matcha (green tea) houjicha (light roasted green tea), kuki-houjicha (dark roasted green tea stem), and genmaicha (roasted rice green tea) purin.

These are gluten-free, egg-free, and nut-free. They also offer seasonal flavours. Their first one was kabocha (Japanese pumpkin) and the current seasonal flavour is chestnut.

The beginnings of Teapurin

Jessica started creating the recipes for tea pudding years ago when she wanted to make the pudding she had tasted in a Japanese tea house back in Tokyo.

The pandemic motivated her to make this into something more official and that’s when Teapurin was created. Work has kept her busy, but with social plans on the pause as well as many other activities, life showed down a little and helped her reflect on life and purpose. Mental health was very important to her.

Keeping Safe

They are starting off in a home kitchen like most online businesses in the beginning stages. If they ever grow, they would love to use a commissary kitchen, but right now the revenue isn’t enough to justify using a commissary kitchen.

That being said, they do sanitize kitchen surfaces and equipment before and after each usage. Food preparation is done with masks, gloves and hair net at all times.

Best Compliment for a Small Business

Purin is a household food in Japan, but here it is almost like a foreign concept. There are lots of new businesses coming up with cheesecake and cream puffs, but Jessica doesn’t think there is any other place that offers chestnut and kabocha purin. She hopes the novelty will be appealing for customers to give them a try, but it also means they have no idea what the feedback will be. So, if a customer likes their purin, then that makes them happy. The best compliment is a repeat customer!

Looking Forward to 2021

They have some exciting things coming up in 2021. Currently, they’re working on new recipes for 2021 seasonal flavours as well as some creative new toppings.

They also hoping to expand our delivery areas so more people can give Teapurin a try.

Taste Test

We tried the matcha, hojicha, genmaicha, and chestnut purin and they were all so good. It was smooth and not too sweet. The tea flavour is strong and balanced well, but the chestnut got us hooked. Very delicious!

Definitely worth it to check them out as they have free delivery around Metro Vancouver with 6 or more purins in an order.

Website:
https://teapurin.com/