An Indian Chocolate Brand Wins International Award
A Kerala-based chocolate brand has taken Indian chocolates to new heights by winning Silver in the International Chocolate Awards
Overshadowed by chocolate companies and chocolatiers, India’s foray into the ‘bean to bar’ artisanal chocolates would have remained a closely guarded secret if it was not for the Paul And Mike brand winning a Silver in the International Chocolate Awards this season (2020-21 World Final), the first Indian chocolate company to do so. This Kerala-based brand clinched the position with their ‘64% Dark Sichuan Pepper And Orange Peel Vegan Chocolate’.
The brand is one of the growing band of artisanal chocolate makers who take care of the entire process, from the coco beans to production, a process known as ‘bean to bar’ or ‘farm to bar’. The entire process from growing and harvesting beans to making the chocolate bar is controlled by the manufacturer.
Headquartered in Kochi, the brand Paul And Mike grows and ferments cocoa on their own farms in Kochi and Coimbatore. The company follows precise fermenting, drying and roasting of the beans to enhance the flavours. According to the company, they source wet cocoa beans from progressive farmers in Kerala and Andhra and take care of the entire post-harvest operations as well as use only real fruits, nuts, spices and pure floral distillates. Paul And Mike is backed by Synthite – a USD 200 million natural food ingredients company headquartered in Kochi.
After winning the award, the company said that their ‘stated purpose’ since inception ‘has been to provide the quality of a Pacari for the price of a Lindt.’ Pacari is a shorthand for high quality Latin American chocolates while Lindt is a shorthand for mass produced Swiss-Belgian chocolates.
The company has also widened its bouquet with fruits ranging from exotic Italian Piedmont Hazelnuts or Amazonian Pink Pepper to Indian fruits such as Alphonso, Jamun and Sitaphal; products that are a blend of magical flavours of wine and chocolate. Did you know their 72% Dark Sula Dindori Reserve Shiraz Wine Vegan Chocolate is made from cocoa beans aged in Dindori Reserve wine casks? However, do note that to maintain their standards, the chocolates are made in small batches, and therefore get sold out fast. The chocolates are also sold online and you can book them here.
