Celebrating the rise of Indian craft chocolate this World Chocolate Day

Most of us grew up thinking of chocolate as either a festival freebie or a sweet bribe wrapped in foil. But something delicious is happening in India’s chocolate scene. This World Chocolate Day, it’s not about imported bars or sugar highs, it’s about discovering Indian cacao in its purest, boldest, most beautiful form.

Across the country, a new generation of craft chocolate makers is treating chocolate less like candy and more like wine: full of flavour, rooted in origin, and made to savour. From tree-to-bar to zero-waste, their stories are as layered as their blends. And it turns out, we’re ready for it.

According to a Mordor Intelligence report, India’s chocolate market is set to grow at 6.8 per cent CAGR from 2024 to 2029, with the premium segment leading the way. Another study by Research and Markets (2023) points to a spike in dark chocolate consumption, driven by health awareness, urban tastes, and curiosity about origin-based produce.

Here are five Indian craft chocolate brands changing the game, bite by bite.

Mason & Co, Auroville

A name that often pops up first in India’s craft chocolate story, Mason & Co makes bean-to-bar chocolate in Auroville with an all-women team trained in the art of chocolate making. Founders Jane Mason and Fabien Bontems work closely with organic cacao farmers in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Their 72 per cent Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt and other minimalist blends have become cult favourites. Expect rich, slow-melting bars made with only four to five ingredients and zero shortcuts.

Kocoatrait, Chennai

If chocolate could have a conscience, it would look like Kocoatrait. Started by Lalit and Poonam Rane, this Chennai-based label is India’s first zero-waste chocolate brand. Everything, from cacao to packaging, is thoughtfully sourced, reused, or recycled. The brand offers eclectic bars like Lemon Chilli, Banana & Jaggery, and Lavender, all with a whisper of Indian nostalgia. Their goal? To make luxury chocolate that doesn’t cost the Earth, literally.

Soklet, Anamalai Hills

Soklet doesn’t just make chocolate, it grows it. As India’s only tree-to-bar brand, everything from fermentation to tempering happens on the Regal Plantation near the Western Ghats. Their cacao is fine-flavoured, their process is obsessive, and the results are sublime. Whether it’s their 70 per cent Classic Dark or bold infusions like Coffee & Cacao Nibs, every bar is a love letter to Indian soil and sunlight.

Manam Chocolate, Hyderabad

Backed by the India Coffee Company, Manam is trying something bold, building an entire chocolate ecosystem around Indian cacao. They partner with farmers, run experience-led cafés, and make bars that range from traditional to wildly inventive. Think Origin bars, Hot Chocolate Mixes, and gift-worthy boxes that taste like they belong on international shelves. It’s still young, but Manam is already acting like a brand with big global plans.

Paul & Mike, Kochi

If there’s one Indian brand that has consistently shown up on the international awards circuit, it’s Paul & Mike. Their Sichuan Pepper & Orange Peel Dark Chocolate won a Silver at the International Chocolate Awards in 2020, and they haven’t looked back since. With their own farm in Kerala and partnerships across South India, they craft bars with fermented cacao, tropical fruits, and a flavour-first mindset. Their tagline, “Grown in India”, isn’t just branding; it’s a declaration.

As India’s palate evolves, chocolate is no longer just a childhood treat; it’s becoming a serious craft. These homegrown brands are not only spotlighting Indian cacao but also changing how we experience chocolate: with intention, integrity, and a healthy dose of imagination.