High-end Indian chocolate draws international attention

BENGALURU, India — For most Indians, the boundaries of chocolate taste have long been defined by Cadbury’s Dairy Milk, which melts into a sweet puddle on the tongue, providing a satisfying sugary treat. This conditioning is slowly being undone, however, by the emergence of finely made Indian craft chocolate.

The first rumblings of this new sector were heard in 2012 when Naviluna (initially known as Earth Loaf) was founded in Mysore, in the southern state of Karnataka, followed in 2014 by Mason & Co Chocolates in Auroville, on the border of neighboring Tamil Nadu state and the territory of Puducherry, also known as Pondicherry. Several others have joined the fine chocolate movement over the years, with brands such as Paul and Mike, Savorworks Roasters, La Folie, Chitra’m Craft Chocolates and others winning global awards.