Hello everyone. I am in need of some advice and opinions.
Specifically, I will be traveling across the globe next month for some time and there are many things I will need which are unavailable where I am going. I would very much like to do a few cakes for relatives there, but will need to improvise or bring ingredients with me that are not possible to get or are too costly there.

MMF: Does it keep long unrefrigerated? What is the shelf life?
I know ready-made fondant is available, but I don't particularly care for it and am sure no one else there will either.

Candy clay / modeling chocolate: Does this melt in warm weather? I know chocolate does so it isn't really feasible for my travel plans, so I was thinking of making some this instead to take along for use when I get there.

Anyone aware of any pastry supply sites available that ship to India?

Any other words of advice, suggestions or ideas of how or what to take along. Am traveling alone with baby but luckily a relative from here is going ahead of me and is willing to take a suitcase (yoknow I am cramming the thing with babystuff and cake stuff, LOL...) - that way I will have some room to bring what I need and less for me to carry myself later. YAY!!!

Many thanks for your help and support.

This is urgent, so I hope it's ok to BUMP myself

I know that MMF will last for a long time if you rub Crisco on it, wrap it in SaranWrap then seal it real tight in a ziplock bag.

I know that it is important to keep the molding chocolate in an airtight container. I have never had it melt and I actually used some in the middle of 108 degree weather. But, someone else may know more about that.

I hope you get answers to all your questions. I, too, am curious so I will be watching to learn, too!

MMF does not need to be refrigerated to my knowledge. It should keep if you wrap it tightly in plastic wrap then put in airtight container. Bring Crisco if you can to add to MMF if it is too stiff. I think it would l;ast a few weeks if wrapped tightly, it won't go bad, just might get very hard if not wrapped carefully. If you had one of those vaccum pack seal-a-meal thingys I bet it would work great and you could take a ton with you!

I don't know about choc clay, I would think it would be more stable than choc itself and I am afraid I don't know who ships to India, but maybe Google cxan help there?

Good luck and have a great trip!

MMF will last for months without refrigeration, though not recommended. I don't know anything about chocolate. I would think most companies would ship to India, but the cost might be out of sight. Where in India will you be? That might make a big difference on what's available. Most larger cities have just about everything. Good luck in your adventure.

there really isn't any reason to refrigerate mmf its made of so much sugar it will take a while for it to spoil just wrap it well if it gets hard you can warm it back up to soften again there are some really good fondants out there they are not all bad just wilton is awlful. I use glasier rolled icing which is fondant taste like mmf. Are you using candy clay to mold with you can pack it well and mold what you need before you leave put in tin containers and it should last and it wont melt since it is like clay might get soft alittle. When you make candy clay there is a chemical change in the chocolate when you add the corn syrup to it won't melt like chocolate does.

Thank you ladies, this is just the info I need
I was hoping I was right about the candy clay, but wasn't sure and didn't want to waste precious suitcase space only to find it melted or spoiled, LOL...
I will be going to Bangalore for a few months and, although it is a major hubb in South India, there are still things that are either unavailable or extremely expensive. Family is scoping out prices for me and what is available, but I am sure that fondant is not or is too pricey.
Chocolate is there, but is also a little pricey, especially in the amount I would need. I haven't had proper time to plan as only decided to go yesterday and am leaving in a couple weeks only, so no time to waste in figuring out what I need to buy, what I need to make ahead and what I need to pack (and how much room I will have after DD's diapers, baby clothes, toys, diapers, toys, diapers, etc... LOL...)
Thanks again for the feedback and do please post any other ideas or suggestions you may think of in the coming days!