Local Entrepreneur Offers Halal Marshmallows

By Norhidayyu Zainal

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- Recognising the difficulty Muslim consumers face in finding halal marshmallows, Nur Ikhmal Danial Zakaria took the initiative to create and market his own marshmallows that meet halal standards.

The entrepreneur, who holds a Bachelor's degree in economics from Monash University, Australia, said he decided to produce the popular confectionary, a favourite with children, after being inspired by its manufacturing process abroad.

“I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur and looked for ideas to launch a product with low capital. At first, I tried selling popcorn but I changed my mind after realising that Muslim consumers are struggling to find halal marshmallow products, especially those made by Muslims themselves. So, I decided to make my own marshmallows,” he told Bernama.

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He introduced his marshmallows, which he made using just three ingredients – sugar, glucose syrup and gelatin – in April last year under the brand Hello Marshmallow.

To ensure his product not only satisfies customer tastes but also adheres to Islamic laws, Nur Ikhmal Danial dedicated three to four months to research and development.

"I sourced recipes from TikTok and YouTube, then refined and modified them to suit customer preferences. Every ingredient used is certified halal and follows standard operating procedures to ensure high quality and safety.

"For now, we don’t use any other ingredient in our product. However, one of our biggest challenges is our country’s hot weather, which makes marshmallows prone to melting, so we had to tweak the recipe to improve its stability," he said.

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He said basically, marshmallows are made by mixing sugar, water and glucose syrup, and heating the mixture to a specific temperature before combining it with gelatin that has been soaked in water. The mixture is then whipped to achieve a fluffy texture.

"For a fluffier and more consistent texture, a stand mixer is recommended over a hand mixer," he added.

Once ready, the desired flavourings and fillings can be added to the mixture, which is then poured into moulds before being refrigerated or left at room temperature for three to four hours to set.

Actively marketing his marshmallows via his TikTok account, @hello.marshmalloww, Nur Ikhmal Danial currently offers six flavours: strawberry, chocolate, blueberry, mixed-nut butterscotch, green tea and cookies & cream.

“Many customers have expressed their gratitude to me for offering a halal alternative, praising the taste and texture, which are comparable to that of existing (marshmallow) products in the market," he said.

He added he aims to focus on the domestic market before considering expanding internationally.

-- BERNAMA