Q&A: Tropical Fluff: Cotton Candy Dreams

Photography by on October 20th, 2017 in Editorials, Food

Katya Bravo & Diana Marin

Miami, FL – October 10, 2017 – Katya Bravo & Diana Marin, owners of Tropical Fluff are making Miami a little bit sweeter by putting a spin on the conventional cotton candy. Bravo, who opened the business for her love of sugar challenged the idea of bringing her favorite childhood candy as a business. Tropical Fluff uses only organic cane sugar, with 10 year staple & seasonal flavors. World Red Eye wanted to look for into Bravos spin off, making them one of our hottest food trends in Miami to watch.

Katya Bravo & Diana Marin

WRE: What inspired you to open your own cotton candy business, Tropical Fluff?

KB: The most simple answer is my love of sugar and specifically cotton candy is what inspired me. Also, the idea of trying to do something different with the cotton candy of my childhood.

WRE: Were you always in the cotton candy business?

KB: No. Most people know me as the Peroni ambassador here in South Florida but I am also the owner of a Photo Booth company – The Frank Booth Co. I would say that the Photo Booth company really led me to the sugary path of cotton candy.

Katya Bravo

We use only organic cane sugar that is naturally flavored and colored. It only takes about a tablespoon of sugar to spin a large poof of cotton candy. I put more sugar in my coffee.

Katya Bravo, Co-Founder of Tropical Fluff

Diana Marin

WRE: What is an interesting fact most people don’t know about cotton candy?

KB: We use only organic cane sugar that is naturally flavored and colored. It only takes about a tablespoon of sugar to spin a large poof of cotton candy. I put more sugar in my coffee.

WRE: What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a business owner, and how did you overcome them?

KB: When I started Tropical Fluff I had very little knowledge about cotton candy and how to make it. Experimentation and lots of patience. You have to keep trying till you get it right.

WRE: Are the flavors you have set in stone or do they change from event to event?

KB: We have our 10 year around flavors but will be doing seasonal and limited edition flavors.

WRE: How did you come up with such unique flavors?

KB: We tested over 50 different flavors. My amazing friends had the difficult task of being the tasters – we kept notes and narrowed it down to 10.

Diana Marin & Katya Bravo

WRE: Whats your biggest selling flavor and why do you think?

KB: Unicorn Dreams is the biggest selling flavor. Marshmallow Cotton candy topped with crushed lucky charm marshmallows, colored sprinkles and gold glitter.

WRE: What was your most popular flavor at the World Red Eye party?

KB: Unicorn Dreams and Sweet Tart (Strawberry Lemonade).

WRE: Do you believe that you would ever branch out from just cotton candy?

KB: We’ve been toying with a popcorn spin off – Tropical Puff.

WRE: Is there a chance you will open up a free-standing store in the future?

KB: After the summer we will start doing pop-ups in markets throughout the city.

Diana Marin & Katya Bravo

WRE: How do you sway those who may not be typical cotton candy lovers to try your product?

KB: We love giving samples of our fluff for those to try – once they try it they love it. The flavors are unexpected.

WRE: Where do you see Tropical Fluff 10 years from now?

KB: Making life in South Florida sweeter of course.