Sugar orchid takes second place

Tania Riley is able to do just that, by using her artistic gift and her baking skills to create the most amazing sugar creations.

Her talent was rewarded when she won second place at the World Orchid Conference in Sandton, recently.

She was tasked to make a single stem orchid, from sugar, as it appeared on the actual orchid.

“The exhibit had to be arranged with complimentary sugar foliage and displayed in a vase not made of sugar,” said Riley.

She decided to make the cymbidium orchid, along with Eucalyptus foliage and the Cape Reed, all made from sugar.

Riley received 81 per cent for her entry and, along with a second place win, she also received a silver certificate from the South African Cake Decorators Guild.

The Farrarmere resident has been involved in cake decorating since 2006, and also gives classes to beginners.

“I was inspired to enter this competition, and specifically the orchid stem entry, because of my love for being able to create beautiful flowers from sugar for wedding cakes,” said Riley.

She added that she was pleased with her award and that this competition will have a resounding impact on her career.

“The entry is not about what you get as a prize when you win, but about the reward of achieving what you set out to achieve,” she said.

For Riley the reward includes not only a feature in South African Cake Decorators magazine, but she has also earned a rewarding reputation among her peers.

“Once I enter the awards, the certificates allow me to win credibility and respect amongst peers, students and prospective brides,” said Riley.

She still enjoys seeing the a bride crying, not tears of sadness, but of joy after seeing her wedding cake.

The South African Cake Decorators Guild is a non-profit organisation, that holds monthly meetings in Benoni.

For more information on the monthly meetings contact Riley at taniariley@vodamail.co.za