In Yetkin Degirmenci’s native Turkey, desserts are key in culture and cuisine.
Since arriving in Conroe in October, the chocolatier has participated in a little of both, sharing his handmade chocolates and his story with those he has encountered in the past two months.Â
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“Chocolate makes me happy and it makes other people happy and I want to share that happiness,” he said. “The chocolate is a conversation piece.”
Holiday chocolates
For the holiday season, his sweet creations are on sale in the Holiday Pop Up Shop in downtown Conroe at 213 North Thompson Street. His company is called Joshua Chocolate, inspired by his Baptismal name of Joshua.Â
There’s milk, dark and white chocolate in bar and holiday shapes. He also has a special round dark and milk chocolates with spicy nuts and candied mango pieces and mint and whisky truffles.Â
He said what makes these chocolates different is there are no preservatives or fructose, corn or glucose syrups. He gives great attention to detail for each step of the process from the ingredients to the taste, presentation and packaging.Â
“It’s like each one going out is my baby,” he said.Â
Life in Turkey
Degirmenci is from the coastal city of Izmir, Turkey. He loved to cook at a young age and made his first sponge cake in elementary school.Â
Through his schooling, he studied graphic design and the culinary trade. He attended culinary school and received his pastry license. He also received a diploma in graphic design.Â
In 2013, he launched Joshua Chocolate combining his two passions. He said Turkey is known for its candy, especially the Turkish Delight candy, but not so much for chocolate. It gave him joy to bring a different taste to the people.Â
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He said his Christian faith lead to difficulty finding work in Turkey and he was laid off in January 2022 from his job as a result of a downturn in the business climate. The difficulty began when he started applying for a new job and he believes employers shied away from him because his government identification lists that he is a Christian.Â
He also said the economic conditions and inflation in Turkey have made it difficult to support himself and his mother.Â
Church support
With support from the Little Flock church in Conroe, the members and head pastor Justin Ulmer were able to bring the pair to Conroe and are working through channels to make their stay in the United States permanent.Â
Ulmer met Degirmenci at one of Europe’s largest gatherings of Christian teens about 10 years ago. He said they clicked immediately and he felt like he was talking to a brother.Â
They stayed in touch over the years and Ulmer and his wife, Brooke, brought a group of American teens to Turkey to experience the culture. Degirmenci and his mother also visited Conroe in 2016 for a brief stay.Â
“In 2016, they came straight from the airport to a prayer gathering here. Yetkin wept. He could not believe they could sing and worship here without looking over their shoulder or worrying they were being recorded,” Ulmer said.Â
When he attended Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Wayne Mack’s prayer breakfast shortly after arriving in October, it brought tears to his eyes again. It was difficult for him to grasp the he could worship alongside elected officials and law enforcement officials.Â
It is Degirmenci’s hope to grow his business here in Conroe. While pursuing business opportunities, he’d also like to give back by hosting chocolate-making classes for veterans, those struggling with PTSD and human trafficking victims.Â
It is his believe there are healing properties in chocolate.Â
“Yetkin has been such a blessing to us (the Little Flock members) because of his perspective,” Ulmer said. “He gushes at the idea that he gets to make chocolates and sell them and see a return. He’s just so grateful for the opportunity to work.”Â
