Packing Tips for India travel - What's in your bag? The essentials to bring and what to leave at home. Includes questions about costs.

Chocolate.... how to pack it?


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Old Feb 23rd, 2005, 13:23   #1
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Chocolate.... how to pack it?

how do you keep it from melting?

I'll be dropping in on a few friends while traveling around Kerala and Tamil Nadu and I've already gotten requests for chocolate.

But I'm concerned that it will wind up as a melted mess.... has that happened to you? Is there a trick to packing it so that it will be alright?

Thanks!
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Old Feb 23rd, 2005, 15:47   #2
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But I'm concerned that it will wind up as a melted mess....
It most certainly will, if you plan to carry it in a bag to the heat of South India Chocolate in India isn't made the same way as it is in US or Eur. Manufacturers here, use special ingrediants so it won't melt!

But that doesn't mean there isn't anything you can do. Here's my advice

1] have it kept in the airplane's freezer during your journey so that it's sufficiently hard when you get off at Chennai

2] carry it in a small thermocol box after that. Thermocol [I think you call it something else in the US] is used for refrigeration so this should work.

Any helpful stewardess will take your request to keep it in the plane's freezer so I think you'll just have to worry about the time at the airport until you reach your friend's home. Hope this helps
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Old Feb 23rd, 2005, 18:31   #3
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Originally Posted by soulfood
2] carry it in a small thermocol box after that. Thermocol [I think you call it something else in the US] is used for refrigeration so this should work.
I think the equivalent is 'styrofoam'?
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Old Feb 23rd, 2005, 18:35   #4
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It's a mess carrying, both styrofoam and melting choco!!!
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Old Feb 23rd, 2005, 18:57   #5
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Oh yes, styrofoam it is.

I'm pretty sure it'll work Beach. It doesn't add any weight, if you find a flat box you can keep it at the bottom of your carrybag too.
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Old Feb 23rd, 2005, 19:28   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DoDi
how do you keep it from melting?
Best to keep it cool mate.




(Sorry couldn't resist that!)
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Old Feb 24th, 2005, 06:08   #7
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We carry chocolate in an empty Folgers wide-mouthed plastic jar--the individually wrapped miniature Hershey candy bars.
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Old Feb 24th, 2005, 08:43   #8
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I just put it in a couple of plastic sacks and immediately transfer it to a fridge in country. I take 20-30 pounds for my neices (and myself). There are some in country foreign collaborations that are decent but..
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Old Feb 24th, 2005, 10:49   #9
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whatever you do, don't wrap it in cloth like material, they tend to trap heat and if chocolate melts, it can get messy. try putting them in a container, like a large nalgene bottle and keep it deep inside your backpack, as air is one of the best and cheapest insulators you'll find and cool it whenever you can... good luck!
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Old Mar 3rd, 2005, 12:21   #10
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I usually freeze the chocolates the day before and hopefully the cold air in the cargo section keeps them cool. They have always ended up fine when I reach India.
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Old Mar 3rd, 2005, 13:08   #11
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Talking Packing chocolates...

Pack it nicely in your tummy
You don't have to worry about anything other than giving it to someone once you reach here...

Cheers
sk
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Old Mar 11th, 2005, 14:23   #12
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Thanks for the advice... the chocolates have arrived in good condition and are in a friend's fridge.
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Old Mar 13th, 2005, 06:56   #13
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That's what I like to hear..
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