In this interview series, HSWT presents startups that are part of the Food Startup Incubator Weihenstephan (FSIWS) . The series introduces the companies, their product ideas, and their working methods.
Raw tarts lovingly handmade – that's what you'll find at Felicitartes . Founder Mariana Schmitz has had a close relationship with unprocessed foods since childhood. From Munich, she produces her desserts, raw and unbaked, using natural and high-quality ingredients.
HSWT: Mariana, how did your startup come about?
I grew up on a farm in Romania, and we never bought any processed foods – not even bread. Thanks to our garden with vegetables and fruit, as well as our farm animals, we were able to produce our own food. When I came to Germany in 1997, I was surprised by how heavily processed the food was – and how little connection people had to "real," unprocessed food. Which I found very sad. For me, cooking and having a connection to food is like yoga.
When you develop this attitude and a connection to food, you also develop a close relationship with your body and your health. I founded a cooking school where I advised and motivated people about eating, shopping, and cooking. With the birth of my third child, I felt the need for something new, and on top of that, my husband developed food allergies. I had to reorient myself when it came to cooking and baking—away from gluten, eggs, hazelnuts, and so on. I then discovered that some friends and acquaintances had similar problems with gluten, lactose, etc.—and were enthusiastic about my recipes, especially the raw desserts.
You offer your “Felicitartes” in various flavors.
Yes, in four variations – avocado-lime, strawberry, raspberry and cocoa-banana – and two different sizes: as a birthday cake and mini tart.
What ingredients are used in the tarts?
Made with natural ingredients like almonds, dates, cacao, avocado, limes, raspberries, strawberries, bananas, cashews, coconut oil, and cornflower petals. Our tarts are raw, not baked. The less processed a product is, the more it retains its natural qualities. A flash-freezing process allows us to offer our products without additives or flavor enhancers. This not only highlights the flavor of the fruits and natural ingredients but also preserves all their nutrients.
