This is what inspired Nur Ikhmal Danial Zakaria to create and market his own brand of this popular confectionery. The 26-year-old, who holds a bachelor’s degree in economics, told Bernama he decided to produce marshmallows 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 changed my mind after realising that Muslim consumers struggle to find halal marshmallow products, especially those made by Muslims themselves,” he said.
His marshmallows – made using just three ingredients, namely sugar, glucose syrup and gelatine – were launched under the brand Hello Marshmallow last April.
Nur Ikhmal, who is based in Simpang Ampat, Penang, dedicated several months to research and development, sourcing recipes from TikTok and YouTube. He then refined and modified them to suit customer tastes and to ensure compliance.
“Every ingredient used is certified halal and follows SOPs that ensure high quality and safety,” he noted. “However, one of our biggest challenges is our country’s hot weather, which makes marshmallows prone to melting, so I had to tweak the recipe to improve its stability.”
According to him, marshmallows are basically made by mixing sugar, water and glucose syrup, and heating the mixture to a specific temperature before combining it with gelatine that has been soaked in water. The mixture is then whipped to achieve a fluffy texture using a stand mixer.
Flavourings and fillings can be added to the mixture, which is then poured into moulds before being left at room temperature or refrigerated for three to four hours to set.
Nur Ikhmal currently offers six flavours: strawberry, chocolate, blueberry, mixed-nut butterscotch, green tea, and cookies and 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 products in the market,” he concluded.
Follow Hello Marshmallow on TikTok, where the products can be purchased on TikTok Shop.