Shipping Chocolate to India - good idea or bad?

bethey · Nov 17th, 2007, 01:16

Hi All!

I'm trying to get together a Christmas present box for a dear friend. I usually use USPS global priority or global express [depends on whether I'm running behind on the date or not - I soooo procrastinate some days!].

Will chocolate survive the shipping? I figured I could double bag it, if the box ends up somewhere warmer for a short period of time [not necessarily within India, I haven't a clue whether the mail gets direct flights].

End point for the box is Kashmir, so obviously temp is not an issue once it gets there!

Also, anyone have a preference for shipping methods from the US? I use USPS purely for cost/convenience reasons but have had only 75% delivery [3 out of 4 packages made it, 1 ended up in some postal black hole]. Has anyone used DHL? Did everything go smoothly?

Thanks!
B

anar · Nov 17th, 2007, 01:18

bad - a friend sent me some in a hamper - everything in it got covered in chocolate.

brownboy66 · Nov 17th, 2007, 01:24

yep - all that has to happen is for the shipment to sit outside somewhere (especially if its in an aluminium airfreight container) for 30-45 minutes and you'll have instant chocolate sauce!

bethey · Nov 17th, 2007, 01:36

Ugh! I was afraid of that. I wanted to add something to the box that was fun, the other gifts are much more utilitarian.

Candy canes may work, now that I think about it.

Can anyone think of any other heat stable Christmas-y candy?

Now there's a question I'd never thought I'd ask.

Thanks again!
B

edwardseco · Nov 17th, 2007, 02:49

Hand carry it in cool weather and get lucky (I did)..

crvlvr · Nov 17th, 2007, 03:21

If you are sending in via Priority mail, it should get there ina week or so. your risks of meliting are minimized, However, I would suggest putting them in ziplock bags to minimize damage. Also, it will help if you describe the contents as Ex-lax (laxative chocolate) to further reduce the chance of pilferage.

I know of many cases where only the empty boxes of christmas gifts were delivered in india.

kidsan · Nov 17th, 2007, 16:12

definately bad

wonderwomanusa · Nov 18th, 2007, 00:54

How about sending "old fashioned penny candy"? This might be MaryJanes, Tootsie Rolls, lollipops, root-beer barrels, Walnettos, Necco wafers. Some of these should be fairly stable in the heat, and will soften but not turn into sauce.

You can see assortmens of these candies at Vermont Country Store site, and some cities have stores that sell them (I believe we have one in a very touristy area).

kalyani68 · Nov 18th, 2007, 22:50

Yeah, to have your recipient get chocolates that have melted and then re-solidified into one unrecognizable mass, would not be good. I would send more stable stuff and only hand-carry chocolates.

I've had trouble with the USPS even within the USA. I would pick DHL. I think DHL has more of a presence in India than FedEx or UPS. You may have to pay more but it shouldn't be that bad.

Nov 17th, 2007, 01:16	#1
bethey Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: East Coast - NJ Posts: 41	Shipping Chocolate to India - good idea or bad? Hi All! I'm trying to get together a Christmas present box for a dear friend. I usually use USPS global priority or global express [depends on whether I'm running behind on the date or not - I soooo procrastinate some days!]. Will chocolate survive the shipping? I figured I could double bag it, if the box ends up somewhere warmer for a short period of time [not necessarily within India, I haven't a clue whether the mail gets direct flights]. End point for the box is Kashmir, so obviously temp is not an issue once it gets there! Also, anyone have a preference for shipping methods from the US? I use USPS purely for cost/convenience reasons but have had only 75% delivery [3 out of 4 packages made it, 1 ended up in some postal black hole]. Has anyone used DHL? Did everything go smoothly? Thanks! B

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Nov 17th, 2007, 01:18	#2
anar Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: India Posts: 511	bad - a friend sent me some in a hamper - everything in it got covered in chocolate.

Nov 17th, 2007, 01:24	#3
brownboy66 Chicken 65 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 2,330	yep - all that has to happen is for the shipment to sit outside somewhere (especially if its in an aluminium airfreight container) for 30-45 minutes and you'll have instant chocolate sauce!

Nov 17th, 2007, 01:36	#4
bethey Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: East Coast - NJ Posts: 41	Ugh! I was afraid of that. I wanted to add something to the box that was fun, the other gifts are much more utilitarian. Candy canes may work, now that I think about it. Can anyone think of any other heat stable Christmas-y candy? Now there's a question I'd never thought I'd ask. Thanks again! B

Nov 17th, 2007, 02:49	#5
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 4,423	Hand carry it in cool weather and get lucky (I did)..

Nov 17th, 2007, 03:21	#6
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: On the move in India.. Posts: 4,535	If you are sending in via Priority mail, it should get there ina week or so. your risks of meliting are minimized, However, I would suggest putting them in ziplock bags to minimize damage. Also, it will help if you describe the contents as Ex-lax (laxative chocolate) to further reduce the chance of pilferage. I know of many cases where only the empty boxes of christmas gifts were delivered in india.

Nov 17th, 2007, 16:12	#7
kidsan Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Nouakchott Posts: 714	definately bad

Nov 18th, 2007, 00:54	#8
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Dhaka Posts: 3,570	How about sending "old fashioned penny candy"? This might be MaryJanes, Tootsie Rolls, lollipops, root-beer barrels, Walnettos, Necco wafers. Some of these should be fairly stable in the heat, and will soften but not turn into sauce. You can see assortmens of these candies at Vermont Country Store site, and some cities have stores that sell them (I believe we have one in a very touristy area).

Nov 18th, 2007, 22:50	#9
kalyani68 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Midwest USA Posts: 216	Yeah, to have your recipient get chocolates that have melted and then re-solidified into one unrecognizable mass, would not be good. I would send more stable stuff and only hand-carry chocolates. I've had trouble with the USPS even within the USA. I would pick DHL. I think DHL has more of a presence in India than FedEx or UPS. You may have to pay more but it shouldn't be that bad.

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