Chocolate among the stars – The Stühmer conquers space!

“Even the starry sky is not a limit for us!”

– this is how the special cooperation between Stühmer and the HUNOR program began, within the framework of which Hungarian chocolate can also go to space. The story began in April 2024, when during a creative brainstorming session the idea arose: “what if Stühmer chocolate went to space?” The idea was bold, but after long discussions, Stühmer finally joined the Hungarian space mission as an official sponsor.

The next big challenge of the project was to meet NASA’s extremely strict requirements, as developing a food product for space travel is subject to high expectations.

“When the idea of ​​sending chocolate into space first came up, it seemed like an impossible challenge at first. NASA set us strict requirements, as the chocolate launched into space had to meet the special conditions experienced in space,”

– said Éva Mazurka, the company’s quality management manager. In order to find a solution, the Stühmer team began experimenting together with, among others, the Hungarian University of Agricultural and Life Sciences (MATE). After a lightning-fast research process, they managed to create a chocolate that meets the challenges of the extreme space environment, partly through their own development. The basis was Stühmer’s traditional Corfu bar, which, thanks to its composition and texture, can withstand pressure differences, weightlessness, and temperature fluctuations. Norbert Juhos, Mission Manager of the HUNOR program, also spoke about compliance with special conditions and safety standards, while emphasizing that it was of paramount importance to the program to try to deliver Hungarian food to the International Space Station as part of the mission.