Interview with Alak Vasa, Creator of Elements Truffles

Imagine a chocolate that provides more than just a party in your mouth—it also nourishes your body and feeds your soul, inspired by centuries-old healing traditions. And suppose that same chocolate also offered hope and a future to disadvantaged children. Would you be interested? Alak Vasa, creator of Elements Truffles, bets you will be.

Vasa was a successful trader on Wall Street. Seeking to mitigate the stresses of that life, she began the practice of meditation, and gradually became more mindful of her diet, her spiritual growth, and her place in the world. Eventually, she quit her job—with no clear idea of what to do next. “I didn’t have an exact plan in my mind. The only thing consistent throughout the entire journey was listening to my inner voice and jumping into the unknown with complete faith,” she says.

The Passion

As a dessert—especially chocolate— lover, Vasa started with what she knew. Experiments in the kitchen led to a table at her local farmers market. And the response there encouraged her to continue to build and expand—and her dreams were rewarded. “When I first saw the complete product on a chocolate wall in a store, I couldn’t believe it,” she says. “I realized that when you have the right intention, the universe conspires to make it happen.”

Elements truffles are more than just cacao and honey. As Vasa grew in her meditative practices, she rediscovered the Ayurvedic principles that she had grown up with and incorporated them into her chocolates. Infusions of cinnamon and clove, turmeric and ginger, and moringa and ashwagandha offer benefits both physical and spiritual.

For Vasa, the culture of the company is as important as the product itself. “At Elements, we take no shortcuts. We use only the purest ingredients from Fair Trade manufacturers who fiercely align with our philosophy and values.”

Equally important are the people who surround her and whose lives she touches. “I love to meet amazing kind-hearted people on this journey,” she says. “I love having an amazing team of people to work with and share my vision with and grow together to get there.”

The mission also involves a big helping of giving back. A generous portion of the company’s profits goes to supporting the education of underprivileged children in tribal, rural, and slum areas of India, through the Care For Children Program of the Art of Living Foundation. “People always come first,” says Vasa. “Because we believe that only happy and grateful people can make happy chocolates.”

Web exclusive recipe!

Visit betternutrition.com for a delicious Grilled Chicken Cutlets with Chile-Chocolate Sauce recipe made with Elements Truffles.