I appreciate you not wearing perfume today. “The cologne interferes with the activity we’ll be doing now,” explains Chaitanya Muppala, presenting a platter of cacao (beans used to make chocolate) nibs. “These are nature’s chocolate chips, crushed pieces of cacao bean that have gone through the fermenting, drying, and roasting process,” says Muppala, 32, the CEO of Manam, India’s first artisan chocolate business situated in Hyderabad. In Telugu, Manam signifies ‘us’ or ‘us’.
Chaitanya Muppala, India’s only Level 3 Certified Chocolate Taster, founded Manam Kharkhana in 2018 to focus on artisanal production on a smaller scale, from whole beans to finished bars.
The brand emphasizes the importance of upholding cacao bean quality and sustainability, contrasting with the mass production of industrial chocolate. The “pod to bar” philosophy of Manam Kharkhana contrasts with the mass production of industrial chocolate. The brand offers an immersive journey into the world of craft chocolate, showcasing Muppala’s dedication to his craft.
The “pod to bar” philosophy contrasts with the mass production of industrial chocolate, highlighting the importance of upholding the values of cacao bean quality and sustainability.
The tasting session is just one of the many features of Manam Kharkhana, an experiential center that opened to the public and for retail sales on August 15. The classroom will host workshops designed to educate various customer groups about the world of specialty chocolate.
“Discover, explore, and interact with cacao and chocolate in all its interpretations and forms,” says the entrepreneur. The next step is to make your own chocolate tablet in the Chocolate Lab right next to the classroom. This is homework everyone loves. One can pick from the milk and dark chocolate variants (different percentages), fruits, fillings, and nuts.
It takes the in-house chocolatiers an hour to merge it all together to create the flavour and christen it after you. Meanwhile, for enthusiasts, a tour of the factory awaits, where Muppala briefs the group about roasting, crushing, melting, blending, and ultimate flavour enhancement. The 30-minute tour is a sensory voyage where one can inhale the aroma of roasted beans and witness its transformation into velvety milkiness, culminating in a splendid piece of edible artwork.
The experiential center, spanning 10,100 square feet, offers a wide range of delectable options, including signature tablets, bonbons, truffles, and rochers with a rich hazelnut core. The center features an Instagram-worthy wall with a cascading chocolate fountain and a captivating sight of chocolate undergoing roasting in the machine.
The brand uses Indian cacao to create a variety of exquisite creations, including single-farm, single-origin, fermentation, signature blends, and infusions. The coconut and curry leaf bonbon, a single-origin masterpiece from West Godavari, is an example of this.
The complete selection is available to customers across India via their dedicated e-commerce platform. During the visit, a personalized chocolate tablet is handed over by the chocolate lab assistant, a bespoke creation to savour.
To book experiential sessions, customers can visit the brand’s official website or explore their social media presence.