A Chocolate Lover’s Paradise: Manam Chocolate Launches In New Delhi With A Retail And Experiential Centre

Around two years ago, I discovered my love for Indian craft chocolate after a trip to Hyderabad, where I dropped by Manam Chocolate Karkhana on the bustling Banjara Hills road. Founded by Chaitanya Muppala, Manam Chocolate completely changed my perception of what Indian chocolate could be. Smooth, luxurious, and meticulously crafted, it was a revelation, and I've been a loyal patron ever since.

In fact, in just under a year, Manam Chocolate earned a spot on TIME's list of the World’s Greatest Places of 2024—a well-deserved accolade. But what truly hooked me wasn’t just the taste but the story behind the chocolate. I had the rare opportunity to visit one of Manam Chocolate’s cacao farms in the West Godavari region of Andhra Pradesh, where I met farmers like BV Rao, the brand's first farmer partner, who walked us through the farm, and the women who carefully cracked open the pods and separated the beans by hand. 

The pods collected are then taken to the Distinct Origins Cacao Fermentary, which Muppala set up in 2021 to ensure cacao beans go through the correct process of fermentation and drying–two crucial methods that bring out the full flavour potential of cacao. Witnessing this from the ground up gave me a new appreciation for the craft and care behind each bar.

So when I recently got a call to visit Manam Chocolate again—this time in New Delhi—I happily signed up. The karkhana has expanded into the capital as a retail and experiential space in Eldeco Centre, Saket, with over 350 signature and new creations. 

Inside Manam Chocolate In New Delhi & Its Sweet Offerings

Just before entering the gates of Eldeco Centre, I spotted the familiar Manam Chocolate sign gleaming on the building façade—visible even from the road as we drove past. Once inside, the scale of the space reveals itself. The Delhi outpost, too, welcomes you with its iconic chocolate fountain at the entrance. On stepping in, the rich, heady aroma of chocolate immediately engaged my senses, drawing me deeper into this sprawling 3,200-square-foot chocolate wonderland.

On my left, a model display showcases a figure of B.V. Rao and an illustrated journey of chocolate from pod to bar. Just behind it, I spotted a team member in the chocolaterie delicately dipping candied oranges into molten chocolate—a sight so mesmerising, it was impossible not to salivate. This is the section that also has an immersive, physical display walking visitors through the entire cacao-to-chocolate journey, encouraging you to pause, explore, and engage with the process. 

Echoing the spirit of a karkhana (factory), molten chocolate in milk, white, and dark varieties flows through tanks and transparent pipes—Muppalla jokingly refers to them as “anacondas”—connecting different zones and feeding both curiosity and creativity.

To the right lies the expansive retail area, neatly divided into themed collections. There’s the Snacking Collection with barks, nibs, clusters and thins; the Indulgence Collection featuring bonbons, truffles and palettes; and the Tablet Collection, which includes over 40 bars—from classic 67% West Godavari dark to more unique flavours like Mango-Ginger, Pedda Rasalu Mango, and Chakkarakeli Banana, among others. There’s also a gifting section and a Bakers’ Collection.

We indulged in a little tasting session guided by Manam Chocolate’s Head Chef, Ruby Islam. My top picks? The Pistachio & Apricot Bonbon, Hazelnut Praline with 45% Milk Chocolate, Raspberry & Chilli Chocolate Popcorn, and the Lemon Cheesecake Bonbon. If you're a matcha lover, don’t miss the Dark Chocolate & Matcha Almond Dragees—toasted almonds coated in matcha tea–infused caramelised white chocolate. 

Adding a deeper layer to the experience are live-casting screens that stream footage from Manam Chocolate’s cacao farms in West Godavari,  the Distinct Origins Fermentary in Tadikalapudi, and the Manam Chocolate Karkhana in Hyderabad, offering a real-time glimpse into the origins of the chocolate. Having witnessed these spaces first-hand, it felt like a homecoming. 

At Delhi’s Manam Chocolate, the act of making is not hidden; it’s treated as theatre and is on full display. Transparent, tactile and immersive, the process becomes part of the experience for everyone. A long, continuous counter runs through the heart of the space, leading you past the bakery with its croissants, tarts and loaves; and the patisserie filled with enticing pastries and entremets, along with the bonus sight of the team piping icing on cakes. There’s also a dedicated cake section, which is interestingly differentiated from the rest of the space with a unique flooring pattern inspired by the shape of the cacao fruit. 

Up ahead is the beverage bar, interestingly designed with tiles that look like chocolate tablets, offering 36+ hot and cold chocolate-based drinks. From nostalgic hot chocolates and rich chocolate lattes to clean plant-based blends and indulgent shakes, this is Indian craft chocolate reimagined as a drinkable experience. Whether you lean dairy or dairy-free, every drink is designed to pair perfectly with an in-house selection of Viennoiserie, pastries, brownies, cookies, and a new line of savoury bites. My personal favourites? Blueberry Oat Iced Chocolate paired with sea salt cacao nibs, and Iced Tiramisu Latte, paired with 67% dark cacao nibs. 

The space also features a cosy classroom corner for workshops, storytelling sessions and a deeper dive into the world of craft chocolate. And, of course, there’s plenty of cafe-style seating to relax and enjoy the full menu at your own pace. And while you’re busy indulging, take a moment to observe other cool design elements – the cacao farm digital artwork on the ceiling and a vibrant mural celebrating Manam Chocolate’s farmers. The name Manam, meaning ‘We’ or ‘Us’ in Telugu, is a tribute to its Indian roots and the collective spirit behind the brand. It’s a nod to the many hands that shape each bar—from farmers and fermenters to chocolate makers, chocolatiers, and storytellers—coming together to define a new era of Indian Craft Chocolate™. Another unique display is the slow-brewed, cold drip coffee section, placed just above a shelf featuring books about the history of chocolate—a charming touch for the epicurean. 

Savoury Bites 

Following some sweet indulgence, we were eager to try some savoury offerings. And so we sampled some of the dishes recommended by Muppala. We began with the Jackfruit Croquette, a deep-fried green jackfruit dish cooked with spices and cheese, served with tomato chutney. The next plate, Avakaya Falafel, featured chickpea falafel served on a bed of hummus, seasoned with avakaya (spicy Andhra-style mango pickle) oil, adding a little heat to the palate. The refreshing Beet & Citrus salad with roasted beetroot, mesclun, arugula, cherry tomatoes, red radish, orange segments, and caramelised walnuts—tossed in a honey mustard dressing — was the ideal dish to cut down that spice. Another must-order item is the Chicken Liver Gravy, a Manam classic that features rich brioche toast generously topped with Kerala-style sautéed chicken liver. 

For the mains, we had another crowd favourite: Prawn & Mango Curry with large, chunky prawns in Calicut-style curry, cooked with raw mangoes, and served with crisp red matta rice cakes. Love pasta? Then the Spaghetti Gongura Aglio Olio is a must-try—spaghetti is tossed with sundried tomatoes, olives and gongura (roselle) leaves in olive oil. We also wanted to try Muppala’s favourite Ammama’s Kheema Rice—spiced mutton kheema rice, slow-cooked and drenched with desi ghee. But we wanted to save room for some desserts, so that dish became a takeaway for our flight back home. 

More Chocolate, Please!

It was time for another round of sweets, and we weren’t complaining. I enjoyed the Dark Chocolate & Pistachio Cookie; Pecan Caramel, an entremet with caramelised pecan nuts and sponge, encased in a milk chocolate mousse and topped with caramel glaze; The DMW (dark, milk and white), a cake featuring the signature chocolate couvertures layered together—dark chocolate cake, milk chocolate brown butter ganache, and caramelised white chocolate dulce de leche, and Victoria Sponge & Strawberry Marmalade from the gelatos section, which took me back to my childhood days of enjoying mixed scoops of vanilla and strawberry ice cream. 

On our way out, we took a bite of Manam with us — some chocolate thins, nibs, tablets and more. And, of course, the mutton kheema rice, which I happily savoured on the flight while the others had their boring sandwiches on board.

Address: G 1F-3F, Eldeco Centre, SDMC Primary School Lane, Block A, Shivalik Colony, Saket, New Delhi-110017, India.

Contact: +91 8977760769 / 011 43025981

Timings: 10 am to 12:00 am (Closed on Mondays till the end of July) 

Pan India Delivery:www.manamchocolate.com