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A 15-year-old student from Chernihiv region makes artisan sweets and supports the Ukrainian Armed Forces
“Thank you, warrior!”, “Thank you, titan!”, “To the unbreakable – thank you!” Carefully decorated handmade chocolate treats are on their way to the front. And they were personally made by… a 15-year-old student, Anton, from the small settlement of Kulykivka in Chernihiv region, Ukraine!
Anton has been involved in the “sweet business” since he was 10 – baking cakes and cookies himself, and with the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, he started to make original handmade chocolate, donating a portion of the proceeds to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces!
“I can only imagine how tough it is for you, so I want to sweeten your life at least for a moment!”
“During the full-scale invasion (when Chernihiv region was de-occupied), I began making chocolate, so I want to treat you to some handmade delicacies.
Thank you, Ukrainian Armed Forces, for defending my Chernihiv region! For allowing me to have my home and my family alive. For enabling me to do what I love… Thank you and take care!”
Anton Salo, a 10th-grade student at the Kulykivka Lyceum in Chernihiv region, Ukraine
The boy’s letter, sent along with the sweet treats to our soldiers, is truly heartwarming! We talk with the young chef about his support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces and his chocolate secrets.
Handmade Chocolate: Everything Will Be Just Like Chocolate!
Anton, 15, has found his hobby in the culinary arts for more than five years now.
“I’m a 10th grader, I’ve graduated from music school in guitar class, and I’ve been practicing martial arts for six years. But the kitchen and everything related to it is one of my favorite activities.
Since childhood, I loved watching my mom or dad cook. I too wanted to share this emotion, this taste with my dearest people. I liked making sweets – first, just helping my mom, and then I embarked on a ‘solo voyage.'”
By the age of 10, or even earlier, Anton was already baking various sweets, cookies, cakes… Everything turned out well, and he really enjoyed this sweet endeavor. He himself is quite the sweet tooth, so he was fascinated both by the process and the result!
Anton’s family supports and inspires him in his love for cooking! Half of their kitchen is occupied by his chocolate molds and various culinary “gadgets,” sometimes he suspects that his mom might not always be thrilled about this, but she always bravely endures and gives Anton the chance to create! His mom, dad, and two older sisters are his first tasters and culinary critics.
“I even have my own area of responsibility in the kitchen now: yes, for the last two or three years, I’ve been the one to bake and decorate the Easter cake for our family. And generally, whatever is requested at home – I prepare it. Well, I love this work!
And then there was chocolate, lots of chocolate… And a desire not just to cook, but to create something incredible, something that would not only melt on the tongue and bring pleasure but explode in a fireworks display of vibrant flavors.”
Anton took on the tempering of chocolate (that’s the process of making not just tasty but beautiful creations from it) a little over a year ago. He wanted to try his hand at making artisan sweets, moreover, handmade chocolate is always interesting and delicious! Chocolate is a work of art! And if it’s also handcrafted and made exclusively from natural ingredients – it’s a flavor sensation. Working with chocolate is actually not easy – it requires both speed, as it sets quickly, and at the same time, calmness and a “steady hand”…
Sweets in the shape of the Ukrainian coat of arms, original and refined chocolate bouquets, candies of various shapes with different fillings, chocolate cocoa bombs – at first, it’s hard to believe that all this beauty is edible, so masterfully are all the products made!
“The most technically challenging of my ‘chocolate arsenal’ is the chocolate bouquet. It’s a very delicate and intricate work, and it takes a lot of time.
But such a chocolate bouquet can ‘melt’ anyone’s heart! It took a lot of time and even more chocolate to make the floral buds perfect – exactly as I wanted them to be. But everything that didn’t turn out well was deliciously eaten! So, I never made a tragedy out of imperfections on the first try, as there was always a way to ‘sweeten’ the failure.
Anyway, making candies at home is a delightful activity in every sense. I looked for recipes on YouTube, experimented, got the hang of it, and then everything went as smoothly as cocoa butter)).”
"Sweet Cause" – Supporting the Ukrainian Armed Forces!
After mastering the technical “basics,” Anton realized he enjoyed creating and experimenting with recipes and flavors on his own. When he decided to sell his products, he immediately resolved that a portion of the profits would go to the Ukrainian Armed Forces – he wanted to help our guys, not just sit idly by.
“I’ve participated in many charity fairs with my products, and the funds raised from them were donated to support the military. I also conducted chocolate-making workshops for kids – to interest them in the ‘magic’ of creating candies and handmade chocolate.
The kids get a lot of joy from such activities, and it also helps our defenders. With the money earned, I contributed to the collections of our local charitable foundation ‘Siveryany,’ which assists the Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers – together, we managed to purchase professional glasses for drone operators.”
Last spring, in the first month of the full-scale Russian invasion, Anton’s village was on the brink of occupation – but, fortunately, our Ukrainian military protected us and drove the enemy away.
Everyone in the locality saw what our protectors saved them from, and even billions of “thank yous” would not be enough to express the magnitude of gratitude and admiration!
From the first days of the full-scale Russian invasion, Anton went to the local volunteer center daily to weave nets – he would only run home for a quick snack before getting back to work. Now, he understands that he can also help with his sweet hobby.
Chocolate with a Twist – Why Not!
Anton, at 15, is not stopping at traditional chocolates. He says he aims to change the sweet world as we know it:
“I want to experiment with new, original flavors – like craft cheese candies, and – why not – chocolate-covered bacon! I’ll create a treat that embodies the Ukrainian spirit and play on my last name, Salo (which means ‘bacon’ in Ukrainian). I’m eager to be creative and evolve. Most importantly – I want to inspire people to enjoy unusual candies and handmade chocolate. There are so many creative ideas I’d like to bring to life: create many interesting new sets, both patriotic and festive-themed.”
The chocolates Anton makes himself stand out in their originality of shape, filling, and flavor. For his creations, Anton uses cocoa butter and five types of quality Belgian chocolate: milk, white, dark, extra dark, and even sugar-free chocolate! He adds nuts – almonds, cashews, and hazelnuts, freeze-dried fruits – raspberry, mango, pineapple, blueberry, cherry.
He orders all the ingredients for his chocolate treats online, and everyone at the “Nova Poshta” (New Post) already knows and recognizes him: “Oh, you’re going to make something tasty again!”
Anton’s sweets have been enjoyed abroad – they’ve been purchased and sent to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, with the best feedback!
Handmade chocolates are ordered not only in the Kulykivka community and throughout Chernihiv region but also beyond its borders. And the boy’s plans include improving his skills and continuing to support the Ukrainian army.
“With chocolate, it’s simple. People taste it, and you immediately know if they like it. You see satisfied smiles on their faces and get inspired to get back to work… And if this way you can also help and sweeten the life of our military a bit – it inspires and motivates doubly!”
