5 home-grown chocolate brands to add to your pantry

If you thought the best chocolate can only come from countries like Belgium and Switzerland, then think again—there’s a rising crop of Indian chocolate brands that is highlighting the versatility and rich flavours of cacao grown in the country. These bean-to-bar labels are on a mission to source responsibly from local farms and bring unique flavours (ginger and jaggery-flavoured chocolate, anyone?) to Indian chocolate connoisseurs. Here’s our edit of five brands that you should make space for in your pantry!

La Folie

La Folie, the craft chocolate brand founded by pastry chef Sanjana Patel in 2014, is one of the most popular in the country, with their unique flavour combos a hit with Indian chocolate fans. While the brand has a cafe in Mumbai’s Kala Ghoda neighbourhood where you can sample their decadent desserts and sip on some of the best hot chocolate in the city, their bars are available to shop pan-India. With beans sourced from places like Guatemala and Ecuador, and even local states like Kerala, their bars are a must-try. We love their classic Himalayan Pink Salt and Maple and Chunky Almond Butter flavours!

Anuttama

A Karnataka-based brand, Anuttama’s aim is to put handcrafted chocolate from the state on the Indian chocolate map. Their farm-to-bar chocolates are all natural, gluten-free, and don’t feature any preservatives. They are a small batch production, and their spicy tang bar is ginger flavoured sweetened with jaggery, lending it an earthy, spicy kick we can’t get enough of. If you’re more of a milk chocolate person, then don’t miss their Bella Therai bar featuring jaggery and coconut, which tastes like payasam, the popular rice pudding dessert. Their quirky packaging which features Kannada font and simple imagery is the cherry on top!

Mason & Co

Mason & Co is one of the early home-grown brands that ventured into the world of chocolate, and their offerings are a favourite with chefs across the country. The Pondicherry-based brand sources their beans form organic farms in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and closely works with an all-female team to produce their chocolates. While single-origin chocolate bars that pay homage to the region through the flavour remain their forte, they also have a select collection of chocolate spreads, drinks, butters, and powders. We are big fans of their signature dark chocolate and the Sourdough and Sea Salt bar! 

Darkins

Started by Richa Choudhary, the Delhi-based brand works with local cacao farmers to create single-origin chocolates that hit the spot. From blueberry-flavoured bars to chocolates studded with roasted almonds, take your pick. Their sea salt dark chocolate is one of our favourites! 

Bon-Fiction 

Founded by a certified chocolate maker, Bon-fiction is all about having fun with flavour combos—think bars studded with dried mango and spiked with chilli, or an orange-flavoured chocolate with cinnamon. Based out of Rajamahendravaram in Andhra Pradesh, the Indian brand works with farmers in the Godavari region.  Their minimal packaging features stunning illustrations and evocative names for each bar—The Cranberry Chilli Chase features cranberries and chillies, while the A Marvellous Mint Life has 64 per cent dark chocolate flavoured with peppermint.