It’s about 10:30 a.m. — HI Cravings Co-Op opens at 11 a.m. — and there’s already a line forming for Zarina Dessert Studio’s trendy fruit-shaped desserts.
According to HI Cravings founder Jess Kamanaʻo, customers were asking about the fruit desserts since earlier in the week, when HI Cravings posted on social media that Zarina Dessert Studio would be one of the featured businesses at the Co-Op.
“We (Zarina and I) connected about three or four weeks ago, not that long ago,” Kamanaʻo says. “But the beautiful thing is, this is what the Co-Op is about — it’s about being able to collaborate with other small businesses. This is an opportunity on both sides; the labor of everything is so intense. Now, she (Zarina) can focus on what she’s good at — making the product — and we can help her move it out.”
Zarina Jumagulova started her business last year by making marshmallow flowers and edible bouquets. The edible flowers featured airy souffle confections, according to Jumagulova.
“That was always my passion — to make something not only sweet, but beautiful as well,” Jumagulova says.
She first saw the trending fruit desserts online and researched how to make them.
“I found an online course for how to make them,” she explains. “I tried to make them; when I tasted them, I was excited about the appearance, taste and crunch.”
Jumagulova has only been making these fruit-shaped desserts since July. Not even three full months later, they’ve become social media-famous, and known to sell out quickly.
Jumagulova explains the desserts are inspired by modern Parisian pastries, and they’re especially known for their delicate, crunchy, chocolate shell. She says the raspberry flavor was her first one — “raspberry is my daughter’s favorite” — and then continued with mango and blueberry.
“Outside is white chocolate; we also use milk and dark chocolate for some flavors,” she says. “Usually, it’s premium Belgian chocolate; we add cacao butter for the best crunch. Inside (each dessert), you’ll find a fruity filling. It’s not a jam — more like a gel — because it’s softer and smoother.”
On her first day at the HI Cravings Co-Op, Jumagulova brought eight dessert flavors — coconut pineapple (pina colada), blueberry, mango, raspberry, pistachio Dubai, banana, strawberry lime, and coffee caramel. Confections range from $9 to $12, depending on the flavor.
“Mango is the most popular flavor, and banana is a crowd favorite,” Jumagulova says. “Some people buy only pistachio. My favorite is pina colada; I love that flavor.
“We use real fruits (to make the pastries),” she adds. “We enrobe them in the ganache, which is like a whipped cream with white chocolate in it.”
The business’s pistachio dessert is its version of Dubai chocolate, as it features pistachio praline and crispy kataifi pastry with pistachio pieces. Meanwhile, banana comprises a mix of creamy banana ganache filling and banana caramel.
It takes Jumagulova around three days to make a batch of these desserts. She explains she makes the ganache and filling, but it takes time for the ganache to set and for the filling to freeze. The treats are then dipped in the mixture of chocolate and cacao butter.
She explains that the desserts can be stored in the refrigerator, and recommends that customers consume them within 48 hours of purchase.
“Put them in the fridge as soon as possible for a better crunch,” she says.
On the business’s first day at the HI Cravings Co-Op, it sold out of desserts in about two hours. But, Jumagulova says the Co-Op will be restocked and customers can soon look forward to seasonal flavors like pumpkin.
“We live in Kapolei, so we’re excited to be open at this location,” says Jumagulova. “This is our first physical location; we started as an online shop, and we’re still accepting online orders.
“I would (eventually) like to open more points of sale on Oahu and on other islands as well,” she adds. “People keep asking, ‘Do you do shipping?’ but it’s impossible with such fragile desserts. I still get orders for the edible bouquets, but I’m not able to make them anymore because I’m so busy with these fruits!”
CONTACT
Zarina Dessert Studio
Pop-up at HI Craving’s Co-Op
711 Kamokila Blvd., Kapolei
https://www.zarinadessertstudio.com/
Instagram: @zarinadessertstudio
Open Thursdays to Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (closed Wednesdays)
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
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