If there’s one brand that has redefined Indian craft chocolate and catapulted it onto the global stage, it’s Manam Chocolate. In 18 months, the brand has gone from the Manam Chocolate Karkhana in Hyderabad to global recognition–setting a new standard for Indian chocolate with craft, culture, and creativity.
Recognised by TIME Magazine as one of the World’s Greatest Places of 2024, and honoured by the Academy of Chocolate and the International Chocolate Awards, Manam’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric.
Now, with the launch of its immersive new outpost at Eldeco Centre in Delhi’s Saket, Manam invites the capital into a sensorial sanctuary, where every flavour speaks fluent terroir and every bar tells a story rooted in Indian soil.
Spread across 3,200 sq. ft., the space is an ode to chocolate in all its forms–where you don’t just buy chocolate, you experience it. From the moment you step in, the warm, heady aroma of cacao pulls you in. Overhead, molten chocolate flows through exposed pipes, igniting a childlike curiosity and a sense of wonder.
Every corner tells a story of indulgence–be it tablets, bonbons, truffles, single-origin bars, or fresh confections baked right before your eyes. But it’s the storytelling woven into each bite that truly lingers.
Before The Bean, Beyond The Bar
At Manam, cacao isn’t just an ingredient; it’s the soul. Guided by the philosophy of “before the bean and beyond the bar,” the brand treats chocolate as a journey–from fruit to fermentation, and from innovation to indulgence. The result? A bold new take on chocolate that honours tradition while imagining the future.
But what Chaitanya Muppala–CEO of Distinct Origins, the parent company of Manam Chocolate–cherishes most is the deep relationship with over 150 member farmers. In fact, the name Manam–meaning us in Telugu–is a tribute to this collective spirit: a passionate network of farmers, fermenters, chocolate makers, chefs, and storytellers reshaping Indian craft chocolate.
It’s no surprise, then, that the store features live video feeds from Manam’s cacao farms in West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, making the connection between the bean and bar deeply personal.
Chocolate For Every Reason And Season
Manam’s Delhi outpost is a stage for chocolate in all its moods and moments. Conceptualised as a series of annual editions, the store features over 350 products across 50 categories, redefining what chocolate can mean for indulgence, gifting, snacking, baking, and beyond.
The space stretches well beyond retail. At its live bakery and patisserie, chocolate dreams take shape, where chefs cut, layer, bake, frost, and finish desserts in full view, transforming confectionery into performance art.
At the Beverage Bar, chocolate becomes drinkable magic. The menu spans 36 beverages across six categories–from bold lattes and nostalgic hot chocolates to clean, plant-based blends. Some standouts include the Dark Chocolate Orange with zesty citrus and 67 per cent dark chocolate and the Hazelnut Praline Latte featuring caramelised white chocolate and espresso.
There’s also a chic, all-day café where chocolate meets Indian speciality coffee. The global comfort menu draws on ingredients from India’s cacao-growing regions–Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Some of the inventive dishes include Gongura Aglio Olio, Curry Leaf Prawns, Jackfruit Croquettes, and the Palakura Artichoke Sandwich.
For those eager to go deeper into cacao, the Manam Classroom is a dedicated space that hosts chocolate appreciation sessions and immersive workshops, offering a rare peek into the science, stories, and soul behind the brand.
During our visit, a guided chocolate profiling session opened our eyes to the nuanced world of cacao. The session began with something simple: observing raw cacao and its appearance and texture. To me, it felt oddly reminiscent of custard apples. Then came a sensory warm-up: passing around vials of aromas and sharing the memories or emotions they stirred. We were next asked to smell–but not taste–chocolate, to isolate and heighten our sense of scent.
We then moved on to tasting various tongue tastes–bitter, sour, sweet, umami, and tannin–through diluted solutions like tonic water, cold over-brewed black tea, and cream of tartar. This helped us identify flavour notes more clearly when we finally began sampling chocolate.
Tasting chocolate without smelling it first revealed just how much aroma shapes flavour. We sampled a range of Manam chocolates–a bold 100 per cent dark to 67 per cent and 60 per cent variants, each distinct in mouthfeel, aftertaste and complexity. The session ended with milk chocolates, including those from legacy brands–but Manam’s stood apart: less sweet, more nuanced, and unapologetically real.
The Last Word
From spatial design to ingredient sourcing, every detail at Manam’s Delhi outpost pays homage to the farms of West Godavari and the ethos of the Manam Chocolate Karkhana in Hyderabad. Whether you are a chocolate purist or a curious newcomer, Manam promises a delicious awakening–one that stays with you long after the last bite.
Information | Manam Chocolate, Delhi
Where is the new Manam Chocolate store located in Delhi?
Manam Chocolate’s new outpost is located at Eldeco Centre, Saket, New Delhi, offering a full chocolate experience with a café, bakery, and tasting workshops.
What makes Manam Chocolate different from other Indian chocolate brands?
Manam focuses on terroir-driven Indian cacao, craft techniques, and storytelling, and has won multiple global awards, including from TIME Magazine and the Academy of Chocolate.
Can I attend a chocolate tasting or workshops at Manam Chocolate Delhi?
Yes, the Manam Classroom hosts regular chocolate appreciation sessions and immersive workshops that explore the science and soul of Indian cacao.
What can I try at the Manam Chocolate café in Saket?
The café offers dishes like Jackfruit Croquettes, Gongura Aglio Olio, and Curry Leaf Prawns, alongside 36 chocolate-based beverages and Indian speciality coffee.
What types of products are available at Manam Chocolate Delhi?
You’ll find over 350 chocolate products across 50 categories, including bars, bonbons, truffles, fresh bakes, and single-origin collections.
