If anyone still doubts, that female friendship exists, and eastern and western Ukrainians equally love their country,- it's time to take a break, eat chocolate LAVIVA and meet the founders of this sweet brand. 

Larisa Polishchuk - from Rivne region, Maryna Kiselyova is from Donetsk. And their brand LAVIVA- from Ukraine. Friends say: with their tandem, they destroy stereotypes about the difference between the inhabitants of the East and the West. Because they work together for a common goal - to develop Ukraine and make life sweet for people in it. In the literal sense. 

About the ability to create art from tastes, aid to the Armed Forces and the secret of chocolate, with which Ukrainians treat Boris Johnson, Larisa Polishchuk said, co-founder of the company LAVIVA. 

"I want delicious and aesthetically beautiful chocolate!»- a husband once said to Larisa and thus inspired her to turn confectionery craft into creativity. 

It all started three years ago, in the midst of the coronavirus - an emotional crisis demanded colors, flavors and brightness. Larisa with her friend Maryna, from Donetsk, who because of the war in 2014 moved from Donbas to Irpin,- then worked at a confectionery factory. They developed candy recipes. And when the author's fantasy began to go beyond industrial standards, Larisa tried to make chocolate at home. 

"It didn't happen right away, but you will not stop me with difficulties. I was immersed in the Internet for two and a half months:was interested in cocoa varieties-beans, studied chocolate production technology. Then Maryna joined me. Together we started making chocolate in my kitchen at home. We experimented. And we succeeded!- Larisa rejoices. 

The specialty of chocolate LAVIVA- in its absolute absence of artificial substitutes and chemical dyes. Uniqueness is in a bold combination of flavours. And the value is in the handiwork of craftsmen, who create it. 

Now the range of the brand includes 34 types of chocolate. Organic makes the product attractive to diabetics and athletes. And its originality conquers gourmets. Larisa and Maryna don't just make candies. They wrap flavours in chocolate: mango and passion fruit, lime and mint, strawberry and basil, walnut and rose.

Every two weeks LAVIVA spoils customers with novelties. It has customers all over the country.And it all started with a kilogramRuby- ruby ​​chocolate without flavorings and dyes, but with notes of fruit and fresh sourness - and from the desire to experiment. 

"For us 20 bars per day - that was already an extraordinary volume,- says Larisa.- Because at first we were thinking of doing local production. Small, which could be positioned as a hobby. But people tried chocolate, everyone liked it.And we wanted to grow".

"It was necessary to earn money for the Armed Forces..."

The Great War found friends in the Kyiv region. Rooms, in which Larisa and Maryna alone-but they set up production, is located in Buchansky district.The business had to be closed, and the premises should be converted into storage.For two weeks, the women hid with their families in that room from constant shelling.Later they left for the west, but after three months they returned.Because "it was necessary to earn money for the Armed Forces".

Today LAVIVA known for its patriotic chocolate line. Blue-yellow tiles, on which slogans of Ukrainian courage are written, became sales leaders. Sweet souvenirs «Be Brave Like Ukraine» bought for presents, foreign guests are treated with them, they are taken abroad with them. And soon patriotic goodies will be available in other countries. Qatar has already shown interest in chocolate, Sweden, Holland and Germany, so now Larisa and Maryna are preparing to enter international markets. 

"Our chocolate was ordered for an expedition to Antarctica. Our tile with the inscription "Glory to Ukraine!» presented to Boris Johnson.We are happy about that, that people like our product,- Larisa is happy.- We have everything natural. We don't even use crayons.Airbrush only, which dyes cocoa-oil.Transparent cocoa-oil is dyed with food colouring and applied to the tiles through a stencil.We need a yellow colour - add turmeric, you need pink - add raspberries.No one makes such chocolate in Ukraine!»

10interest from the sale of the patriotic line LAVIVA transfers to the needs of the Armed Forces. In addition, the company regularly transfers money to help animals, who suffered from hostilities,- in particular, due to the undermining of the Kakhovka HPP dam. 

"Chocolate is sensitive to smells, therefore, the products were badly damaged by shelling. There were colossal losses. But we managed,- says Larisa.- So, we still haven't turned a corner, which were before a full scale invasion. But our brand is not about money.It's about enjoyment. Our chocolate is decorated with currants, cherry, raspberry. People haven't tried it yet, and just saw - and already received aesthetic pleasure... We work for gratitude from people". 

  

Crisis is a time of opportunity

The period of the full-escalated war LAVIVA used to become stronger. The company became the official operator of the market. There are already eight people in the staff, among them is their own chocolatier, sales manager and social media manager. The range includes new items. 

"Our products are not cheap, because organic chocolate is very expensive. So we decided to make small chocolates, to reduce the customer's check, and everyone could afford quality sweets. We also make dragees. The technology is unique for Ukraine, when the nut is wrapped in natural berry juice. It is very tasty, useful. It can be drunk by children. And recently we started selling fruit chocolate. No one in Ukraine has ever tasted anything like this!Orange-chocolate on orange juice, lime-chocolate, cappuccino, caramel. People will be shocked, when they try.Incredible flavors! It's just a pleasure to eat such chocolate!- Larisa admires. 

LAVIVA– a brand of aesthetics and quality. People, who founded the company, primarily sought to develop the culture of real chocolate consumption in Ukraine. 

«Unfortunately, this is a big problem for Ukraine. We have icing, which harms the body, because it clots blood vessels, called chocolate. And this is unacceptable. There is no such thing in Europe,- says Larisa.- Our people do not have access to real chocolate. But we're changing that.".

 

Writer: Iryna Shatalova