During the COVID-19 pandemic, a local small business in Baton Rouge was born out of a passion for chocolate and science. The business, called Chocolate Bijoux, is run by LSU student Maram Khalaf and her mother, Aliaa. Maram, a biological science major, uses her research measuring growth rates of organic food components for her food micro lab in more than just class assignments. Her mother’s love for chocolate sparked an interest in making it themselves.
As the pandemic hit, Aliaa ran out of her chocolate stash and started watching videos on how to make it. Maram joined in and began sharing their creations with friends. Encouraged by their positive feedback, they decided to open a business called Chocolate Bijoux. Today, Maram and Aliaa work together to produce batches of 100-200 chocolates.
Maram recognizes the importance of her mother’s help in keeping the business running smoothly. She sees parallels between her lab work and chocolate making, noting the precision and different steps involved in both. While they are currently putting all their profits back into the business, Maram hopes to dedicate more time to growing Chocolate Bijoux after she graduates.
For those interested in ordering chocolates from Chocolate Bijoux, they can visit the website or message the business on Instagram. Despite starting as a COVID hobby, the business has become a full-time job for Maram with hopes for future growth.