This October, for the fourth year in a row, Shanghai Young Bakers received the invitation from the French company Mane, who specialize in fragrance and food flavors, to help them make “love apple tarts” for their employees.

Mane first purchased apples from the charity organization “the Children of Madaifu”. Every year, this association raises funds by selling delicious Shaanxi apples to their supporters in Shanghai or Beijing. By buying these apples, their supporters are making a donation to help orphans and other rural disadvantaged children from Gansu and Shaanxi.

                                                                                        Lovely smile from one of Madaifu’s children

Mane decided not only to buy several cases of apples for their employees, but went further by entrusting our charity organization to make pastries out of them. They had the apples sent to SYB’s baking center, where our teachers turned them into mini apple almond tarts. Under their clever hands the air began to diffuse a sweet taste as all kinds of ingredients were mixed and poured into small molds and then placed in the oven. Once the apples turned into apple tarts, the teachers packed them up carefully, giving a final touch to this “love dessert”! For our teachers, making these special pastries is all the more meaningful that every year part of our students are recommended by Madaifu association, and this is an extra chance for them to use their professional skills to help the youth from that area.

                                                                                                             Love apple tart

With the sweet smell of the apple tarts still in the air, the teachers handed the pastries to Mane’s employees. Later that day, they shared with me how delicious they had all found them, and noted that the “taste, smell and shape are perfect!”. They also praised our reactivity and professionalism, which put a huge smile on each of our team members’ faces.

We sincerely thank Mane for their contribution to social projects. With them bridging our two organisations, we were able to combine Madaifu’s delicious apples with SYB’s technical pastry skills to make unique and meaningful tarts. Each bite not only satisfies the taste buds, but also the soul!

                                                                        Love Apple Tarts, made together by Mane, Madaifu and SYB

Eve Wu

SYB Social Enterprise coordinator