A Chocolatier Creates More Diversity In The Castro District
By Keesa Ocampo
The Castro District is known around the world as the epicenter of advocacy for LGBTQI rights. Through its strong community, bustling business and art, it has become an internationally recognized neighborhood. On the corner of 18th and Sanchez, chocolatier Carol Gancia, is whipping up sweet confections and driving conversation around expanding her neighborhood’s diversity to welcome more AAPIs.
Her innovation on chocolate is driven by a desire to bring forward the flavors of tropical Asia and the Philippines, the land of cacao and ube from where she comes. Chocolate first, then conversation, appreciation, and true diversity. Upon a taste of her chai truffles and calamansi ganache, it truly was love at first bite.
What were some of the highlights and challenges of launching Kokak Chocolates?
We opened the shop in June 2020 during the pandemic. The streets were empty. After a couple months of sorting out our process, we decided to explore shipping and that's how we were able to sell our chocolates in 2020. It's a lesson in truly understanding customer behavior, being receptive to changing market trends and trying to stay ahead of the curve.
Being a woman-owned business in the Castro, how do you cater to its market and create a distinct brand?
When you allow yourself to be seen, when who you are aligns with your brand and what you do, you will draw your kind of people. We cannot serve everyone. What we can do is be loud and clear with our messaging about who we are, what is special about our products, and what is important to us. Our community will come. Authenticity is such a key ingredient in a brand. It's not everything but it's a good start.
How have you contributed to the neighborhood’s commitment to diversity, equality and pride?
Being fearful of standing up for who we are is a universal feeling that many of us relate to. Blending in instead of standing out is the easier path. The best thing you can do for others who may not be as brave is to "Say It Louder." That happens to be the name of one of our chocolate collections this Pride month. We hope our chocolates become an instrument for customers to share their own powerful message, whether it’s allyship, pride, or love.
What are some of your best-selling chocolates?
Truffles are our best sellers. It's interesting how I started the business, anticipating that our smaller boxes would sell more. I had even ordered double the amount of smaller boxes than my bigger boxes! To my suprise, the larger boxes actually sell more. Customers love buying our chocolates as special, one-of-a-kind gifts. Many buy them as host/hostess gifts and gifts for family. And when it comes to chocolate, the more, the merrier.
Our top truffle flavors are sea salt caramel, kalamansi, earl gray, coffee, 64% dark, 70% dark, hazelnut, macadamia, guava and pineapple coconut. Our number one bar is the artist palette bar followed by our umami bar which has gained a loyal following.
What’s next for Kokak?
We enjoy shaking it up at Kokak! We are taking yet another step to share our heritage and celebrate who we are by hosting drag brunches for Pride month. It's our tribute to the LGBTQI AAPI community. We are making Filipino-inspired tapas and desserts, served with our hot chocolate, “tsokolate eh.”
What advice could you share with other women who aspire to be in business?
Start. And start small. When you start small, mistakes are also small. Surround yourself with people who will rally behind your idea and support you no matter what. It's hard to start your own business. It makes such a difference to be with people who inspire and/or quietly support you.
What motivates you to keep pushing the limits?
I am a very dynamic person and I love exploring ideas, learning and trying new things. My greatest passion is learning. And there is so much to learn at Kokak Chocolates. The truth is, we can do anything - we can be anything! We just need to take our first step. Limitations are not real.
In this month of Pride, what message do you want to share with the California community?
If you ever have any doubts about pursuing what you love, just choose a path that truly makes you happy. Then, each step forward will be lighter and more fun because you’ll be doing it with pride.
What role can your space play in creating more diversity and inclusion for the neighborhood?
At Kokak, we want everyone to feel welcome. We are all one community and we allow ourselves to be vulnerable with our Seasonal Chocolate messaging because it should be a safe space for us to be ourselves. Sharing our cultural heritage with our community through chocolate is our fun way of saying - we’re here and you’re going to love us!
Kokak is located at 3901 18th St (x Sanchez) in San Francisco. Its chocolates have been written and raved about on KQED, KRON4 Live! in the Bay, NBC California Live and ABC7’s Localish, from EaterSF to Forbes and Buzzfeed. Stop by for a box of chocolates or sign up to experience their drag brunch on June 17 or 27 in celebration of Pride 2023.