Award Winning Caramels - 2016 Scovies

Brian and I (a husband and wife team) own and operate JAVA & Co. in Henry, Illinois.  We create, produce, package and ship our hand crafted products direct from our local commercial kitchen - wholesale, online and at local farm markets.  We wanted to share our good news.

We submitted an entry and taste samples of our Spicy Habanero Caramels to the Scovie Awards earlier in the summer for consideration.  JAVA & Co. was recently informed that their Spicy Habanero Caramels won First Place in the Sweet Heat - ; Candy/Cakes/Pastries/Cookies division of the 2016 Scovie Awards. The Scovie Awards Competition accepts entries for two months during the summer.  The judging, which is not open to the public, consists of 80 to 100 judges, mostly food professionals, who sample products in coded cups in what is called a “blind tasting.” They fill out judging forms and rate the products according to eye appeal, aroma, flavor, and heat scale, and the forms are later totaled and compiled by staff.  The annual Scovie Awards recognize top fiery foods products from around the globe. It is one of the world’s most competitive gourmet food competitions. www.scovieawards.com.

When we received the call saying we won First Place, Brian and I were shocked. Then we celebrated and began sharing our good news.  We were told to expect the complete Scovie Award winner's packet at the end of December. We can't wait!

PLUS

Celebrate National Pepper Month AND JAVA & Co.'s 1st Place 2016 Scovie Award. Save on our Spicy Habanero Caramels now through the end of November! JAVA & Co.'s Spicy Habanero Caramels are made with local Illinois farm grown Habanero peppers – using chemical and pesticide free peppers. Creamy. Buttery. Spicy.  Addictive. Hand crafted in small batches. Each piece is hand cut so individual size of each caramel will vary.  Available in 1/2 pound, 3/4 pound and 1 pound quantities.  No Promo Code Required.  Discount Reflected in Cart.  Savings available online only at www.javaandco.com.

Caramels...Caramels...Oh How I Love Thee

FUN FACTS about JAVA & Co.'s Artisan Caramels.

1) The production time for each batch is 4 to 5 hours, not including packaging and labeling.

2) Caramels take longer to produce in the warmer months - longer to cook and longer to cool.

3) Each batch is stirred entirely by hand for the duration of the cooking time.

4) Only one batch recipe can be made at any one time. 

5) Each caramel is cut by hand - no machines.

6) No two caramel pieces are the same size.

7) Each individual piece of caramel is hand wrapped in a biodegradable clear 4 x 4 inch sheet.

8) JAVA & Co. makes caramels in four recipes.

• Original:  Traditional caramel. 
• Vanilla Chai:  Made with real vanilla beans, fresh ground nutmeg and cinnamon.
• TiRUMisu:  Made with dark Jamaican rum and dusted with unsweetened cocoa.
• Spicy Habanero:  Made with habanero peppers locally sourced from an Illinois farm that raises all crops chemical and pesticide free and sells at the local farm markets. 

9) Caramels are packaged and sold by weight vs. by the number of pieces.  Because all caramels are cut by hand (see #5 & #6), this evens the playing field and everyone gets the same weight by quarter pound, three quarter pound or by the pound.  Piece count will vary, but the weight is constant.

10) Due to their popularity, they are available and made year round.  Caramels are not just for fall anymore...gifts, Super Bowl parties, birthdays, office parties, caramel popcorn...

Stop by our website and check them out!

Jamie Knoll
JAVA & Co.
Small Batch Recipes
www.javaandco.com

A Season in the Life of an Entrepreneur...

Running a small business is not as easy as it looks.  Brian and I are the founders, owners, operators, sales people, marketing, PR, web design, branding team, creative, accountants, bakers, makers, labelers and janitors.  That is a lot of balls in the air on any given day.  Caffeine is a very good thing - our go-go juice.  Every once in a while, one or two balls are taken out of rotation and it can throw off the flow.  This season, we've had the rotation interrupted by Mother Nature.

Each year we participate in our local outdoor farm markets.  On Saturdays, he attends the Bloomington Market and I attend the Peoria Riverfront Market.  The start of market season was a challenge due to the number of storms that occurred on Saturday mornings.  The rain, wind gusts and potential severe threat makes for a tough outdoor market.  The more severe of a forecast, we don't take the risk to attend.

Plus, we've had SO much rain that we've had flooding to contend with - most notably in Peoria.  In fact, Peoria Riverfront Market has moved to two different locations this season to try to escape the rising flood waters.  The City of Peoria even built a flood wall at the cost of $$$$, to help Riverfront businesses.  The water was/is relentless.

The great news is that our incredible local market customers seek out the market and show up - rain or shine - no matter where we are moved - no matter the set-up.  I don't know if they realize how truly magnificent this is and how truly appreciated they are for supporting local farmers during this trying time and local businesses like JAVA & Co.  Wow, they are awesome!  I mean it.  Awesome!!

JAVA & Co. has hit a small snag in the market transportation area as my car has been at the mechanics for a few weeks.  The good news, they've pinpointed the problem and the part is being shipped out to a specialty shop to be fixed - expected part return is 10 business days - and then it has to be installed and tested.  Hoping for the best outcome.  We are a two car family and now that we are down one vehicle, I've had to miss weeks at the Peoria Riverfront Markets and will be missing more.  I've spent the time with Brian at the Bloomington Farm Market and meeting new customers; and catching up on chores around the house.  The personal chores are always the last on the list as the business always comes first.  Could this be considered a blessing in disguise?  Maybe. Jury is still out.

There are some things that are just out of one's control - flooding, storms, mysterious car repair.  This is a time for reflection.  One day at a time.  Sometimes you can't do everything you want to...even with a strong cup of coffee (or two), but I keep moving forward and the coffee keeps me sane.  : )

Follow us on Facebook and if you are in the Peoria area, I hope to see you real soon!

Jamie Knoll
JAVA & Co.
Small Batch Recipes
www.javaandco.com




Oh yes, and lately, I may be adding a little something-something to my coffee and TiRUMisu coffee syrup (TiRUMisu martini).  wink wink  ; )

WEB BUSTERS!

JAVA & Co. is discontinuing Toffee DECAF body care...not the lip care...the body care only. We've permanently replaced it with Amaretto DECAF. This means drastically reduced savings on the final batch that was made for the remaining body butter and body scrub (discontinued body scrub is now sold out). I am listing through multiple sales channels to blow these babies out and once gone, they are gone. No back orders. Take advantage of this incredible savings.
Happy Friday!

Update:  Discontinued Body Scrub is sold out.  Very limited quantities of the discontinued body butter remain.