Chocolate is about the complete experience. In India, chocolate has moved far beyond simple milk chocolate bars. People now look for chocolates that offer more than just sweetness. Luxury chocolate brands have entered the market to meet this growing demand. These brands focus on high-quality ingredients, unique flavors, and careful craftsmanship. Every chocolate is made with attention to detail, from the cocoa beans used to the final presentation.
Luxury chocolates also stand out for their beautiful packaging. They are often handcrafted or produced in small batches. This makes each piece special and adds to the feeling of indulgence. Many people choose these chocolates as gifts for friends, family, or colleagues. They are perfect for celebrations, festivals, or even personal moments of treat. The appeal of luxury chocolates lies in their taste and texture. Smooth, rich, and flavorful, they create a memorable experience with every bite. For chocolate lovers in India, these brands offer an opportunity to enjoy chocolate in its most refined and indulgent form.
Read more: 8 Famous Vegetarian Dishes of Uttar Pradesh and Their Timeless Legacy
6 Benefits of Drinking Black Coffee
Luxury chocolates are special. They use premium ingredients like single-origin cocoa, real nuts, dried fruits, and natural flavors. These chocolates are handcrafted or made in small batches to ensure quality. Unlike regular chocolates, luxury brands focus on taste, texture, and presentation. Each bite gives a rich and smooth experience. Many of these chocolates are also ideal for gifting. They come in beautifully designed boxes, making them a symbol of care and indulgence.
Here are some of the best luxury chocolate brands you should try in India. Each brand offers a unique experience with signature products that are loved by chocolate enthusiasts.
Lindt is a Swiss chocolate brand known around the world for its smooth and creamy chocolates. The company has been crafting chocolate for over 175 years. In India, Lindt is most famous for its Lindt Excellence bars and Lindor truffles. These chocolates are made with carefully selected cocoa beans. They come in flavors like dark chocolate, sea salt, caramel, and hazelnut. Lindt chocolates are rich and silky, giving a melt-in-the-mouth experience with every bite. The brand focuses on quality and consistency. Each chocolate is made to offer a luxurious taste. People often choose Lindt for personal indulgence or for gifting. Its combination of flavor, texture, and elegance makes it one of the most popular luxury chocolate brands in India.
Godiva is a Belgian luxury chocolate brand known for elegance and high-quality chocolates. In India, it is popular for truffles, chocolate bars, and gift boxes. The brand uses premium cocoa and creates unique flavors such as raspberry, champagne, and pistachio. Godiva chocolates are smooth, rich, and full of flavor. They are often chosen for special occasions, gifts, or celebrations. Packaging plays a big role in the brand’s appeal. Each chocolate box is designed to look luxurious and elegant. The brand has a long history of creating gourmet chocolates that satisfy both taste and aesthetics. Godiva combines craftsmanship and premium ingredients to deliver a chocolate experience that feels indulgent and sophisticated. It is a preferred choice for those who want a truly luxurious treat.
Know more: 5 Cities That Serve the Best Non-Vegetarian Street Food
Fabelle is India’s first artisanal chocolate brand, created by ITC. It combines international chocolate-making techniques with local ingredients. Fabelle is known for pralines, chocolate bars, and truffles. The chocolates often include Indian flavors like saffron, cardamom, and roasted nuts. Each piece is handcrafted in small batches to ensure freshness and quality. Fabelle focuses on creating chocolates that are both rich in taste and visually appealing. The brand has earned a reputation for offering a premium Indian chocolate experience. It is perfect for people who want artisanal chocolates with authentic flavors. Fabelle also emphasizes high-quality ingredients and unique flavor combinations. The chocolates are ideal for gifting or personal indulgence.
La Folie is an Indian luxury chocolate brand known for creativity and craftsmanship. The brand produces small batches of chocolates to maintain quality. Popular products include hand-painted chocolate bars, pralines, and bonbons. La Folie often incorporates Indian spices, fruits, and nuts to create unique flavors. The chocolates are visually appealing as well as delicious. The brand focuses on combining artistry with taste, making each piece special. La Folie is perfect for chocolate lovers who enjoy artisanal treats. Its chocolates are also suitable for gifting or special occasions. The brand has built a reputation for premium quality and innovative flavors. La Folie offers an indulgent experience that highlights the richness of Indian ingredients and international chocolate-making techniques.
The Chocolate Room is an Indian brand that offers gourmet chocolates and desserts. It is famous for chocolate truffles, hot chocolate, and chocolate hampers. The brand uses high-quality cocoa to create smooth and flavorful chocolates. Popular flavors include Belgian chocolate, caramel, and fruit-infused options. The Chocolate Room focuses on making chocolates that are both delicious and visually appealing. It is ideal for gifting or personal indulgence. The brand also offers a variety of desserts and chocolate-based treats. Its chocolates are known for their balanced sweetness and rich texture. The Chocolate Room combines gourmet flavors with elegant presentation. The brand is a favorite among chocolate lovers who enjoy quality, taste, and indulgence in every bite.
Choko la is an Indian luxury chocolate brand known for handmade chocolates and elegant packaging. The brand focuses on high-quality ingredients and premium chocolate products. Popular items include nutty chocolates, truffles, and chocolate bars. Choko la also offers seasonal and limited-edition collections. Each piece is carefully crafted to provide a rich and smooth taste. The chocolates are suitable for gifting or personal indulgence. The brand emphasizes luxury and sophistication in both flavor and presentation. Choko la combines modern chocolate-making techniques with traditional flavors to create unique chocolates. The brand is ideal for people who want gourmet chocolates that feel special. Its products provide a premium chocolate experience with attention to detail in taste and design.
Also check: 5 Ways to Use Garden Cress Seeds (Halim) for Stronger Hair and Bones
Cocoa & Co is an Indian chocolate brand that blends modern chocolate-making with artisanal methods. The brand is famous for bean-to-bar chocolates and dark chocolate collections. Cocoa & Co focuses on high cocoa content and natural flavors. They create unique combinations such as chai, coffee, and tropical fruits. Each chocolate is crafted with care to provide rich, intense flavors. The brand emphasizes quality, taste, and authenticity. Cocoa & Co chocolates are ideal for those who prefer dark, flavorful, and premium chocolates. They are perfect for personal indulgence or gifting. The brand has earned a reputation for its artisanal approach and innovative flavor combinations. Cocoa & Co offers a chocolate experience that is both luxurious and satisfying.
Indian luxury chocolate brands often use local ingredients to create a distinct flavor. Saffron, cardamom, chai, and dried fruits are popular additions. Many brands also use small-batch production methods to maintain quality. Artisanal techniques ensure that every piece is handcrafted, giving a personal touch. Some brands also focus on sustainability and ethical sourcing of cocoa beans. This combination of quality, creativity, and authenticity sets Indian luxury chocolates apart.
Check more: Best White Bread Brands in India
7 Healthy Chicken Dishes to Maintain Your Diet
A Guide to Different Breads and Their Nutritional Value
Luxury chocolates are more than just a treat. They offer a complete experience of taste, aroma, and elegance. In India, the market for premium chocolates has grown rapidly. People now look for chocolates that are rich in flavor and beautifully presented. International brands like Lindt and Godiva are popular for their smooth, creamy textures and carefully crafted flavors. At the same time, Indian artisanal brands such as Fabelle and La Folie are gaining attention for their unique taste and handcrafted chocolates. These brands often use local ingredients like saffron, cardamom, and nuts to create a distinct flavor. Luxury chocolates are ideal for personal indulgence. They are also perfect for gifting on special occasions, festivals, or celebrations. With elegant packaging and high-quality ingredients, these chocolates make every moment feel special. For chocolate lovers, indulging in premium chocolates is a way to enjoy a little luxury in everyday life.
Over the years, chocolate industry has grown in its size with the rise in demand of the consumers. In India, the chocolate industry valued at INR 58bn (USD966mn) in FY 2014, has been growing at a CAGR (Compound annual growth rate) of 15 per cent over the last three years. Value notes estimates that the industry will be worth nearly INR 122bn (USD 2,033mn) by FY 2019, growing at a CAGR of 16 per cent.
‘Disposable income, changing lifestyles and a penchant for indulgence make India one of the fastest growing chocolate industries. Chocolate is not just meant for children anymore as was the perception, but adults too are favouring it as a sweet tooth/ anytime snack. The per capita consumption though low is now gradually on the rise. Also the availability of foreign generic brands at local grocery stores & supermarkets is leading to a definite growth in the chocolate business’ shared Chef Anirudha Patil, Corporate Chef-OnShore, CBCS.
Building a chocolaty biz
With growing demand, the chocolate business has become more popular because of the increased consumption, giving gift and also for cooking purposes. Due to this many unique types of special chocolates emerged in the market. In addition to this chocolate has many benefits for instance lowering cholesterol levels, preventing cognitive decline, reducing the risk of cardiovascular problems and many more.
‘The healthier version of chocolates is to be among the next generation of functional foods, pushing the antioxidant effects of dark chocolate. In many countries, chocolate is an essential component of religious events, special occasions and festivals. Today, more than 100 different varieties of chocolates are enjoyed by the young and old from Brussels to New York, Sydney to Tokyo and from Paris to India” said Darshit Shah, MD, Leonidas Belgian Chocolates to Franchise India.
Challenges in growing the biz
With the growing business, there are some barriers too like high raw material prices, lack of government initiative, ambiguity on licenses about liquor being used as a chocolate stuffing, high space rentals, information penetration into Tier II & Tier III cities needed (still considered to be a city centric product), ambient room temperatures, moisture and humidity hamper storage.
‘We make 100 per cent Pure Couverture Chocolate, being a delicate product, the biggest challenge is to maintain the temperature of 18 Degree Celsius through the year in our boutiques and ensure the same temperature is maintained during transportation as well. It becomes a challenge during peak summer months of May-July especially in scorching sunlight of Delhi-NCR. With state of the art cooling methods we have adopted over the years, we are able to maintain the right temperature and humidity so our customers get the exact same consistency each time they bite into our chocolates’ commented Vibhu Mahajan, COO, Choko la.
Taking a leap
It can be said that even during the recession period, the chocolaty business will keep growing. As now-a-days one can find many healthier varieties of chocolates and also the consumers are ready to pay a heavy amount for it.
Moreover, many start-ups are planning to start a business in this segment. ‘I can definitely foresee rapid growth with many people/ new age entrepreneurs using the chocolate business as a start up venture. Also the introduction of assorted varieties with unusual flavours is a big hit. Innovation is also playing a major role through combining local and foreign flavours for exotic new products and gourmet brands are becoming household names’ added Patil.
Chocolate industry today is turning out to be a great success in India. We can say that ‘sweet is no more sinful’, the business has grown from a small retail opportunity to an industry in itself. Major national and international player are seeking a huge growth opportunity in India by entering into the chocolaty segment. The per capita consumption of chocolates has also grown tremendously from 40 grams in 2008 to 120 grams in 2013.
According to a report published by TechSci Research, India's chocolate market is expected to reach $3.2 billion by 2018 due to increasing income bracket and increasing gifting culture in the country.
The trend
These days the trend has changed from eating a chocolate occasionally to a preference over a lunch or dinner. It has become a household necessity among the higher and the upper middle class focusing on the global culture inside their home. Healthier chocolates, sugar and gluten free chocolates are the new trend in the chocolate business. At the same time people are looking at much more personalised and standardised version of chocolates like adding more dark chocolates accounting to the calorie.
Not only this, opening and owning a chocolate outlet, adding chocolate in your existing menu has also opened its door in the Indian F&B industry. Major brands like Krispy Kreme, Dunkin Donuts, Mad Over Donuts have scaled up their menu by adding chocolates. On the other hand, Pure Sin, Guilt Trip has paved a way into the Indian market by opening its outlet serving a wide range of chocolates.
Speaking on the same, Sanjay of Pure Sin, says, “Chocolate is the new trend in the Indian F&B industry. People today do not believe that eating chocolates make them fat rather they are open to try new.”
Strengthening the biz
Chocolate business needs lots of training and support to its staff and the franchisees. Vikas Panjabi, Owner, The Chocolate Room says, “We always research about our franchisee partner before signing a deal or partnering with them.”
Not only this major chocolate branded like Pure Sin offers complete training and technical Support to its staff and partners. On the other hand Leonidas provides practical as well as theoretical training and knowledge on sight to the franchisee for one week. Support is also provided for site selection, store design and equipment ordering. C4 Chocolates seeks passionate people to join hands with. The brand provides complete support from helping to set up the store, product training, regular hand holding through supervision, stock replenishment, stock return and marketing.
Way forward
With major international and local brands foraying into the chocolate market, India is growing at a faster pace with brands like Hershey, Royce Chocolate, Puri Sin, The Chocolate Room expanding their wings. The Chocolate Room has 110 franchise stores in India and is planning to operate another 50 stores by 2015 targeting tier II and III cities. Leonidas which currently operates two stores in Mumbai is planning to expand to New Delhi, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai taking the franchise route.
Summing up, chocolate has really gone through a different phase of development. Not only the outlets have come up in the cities but gifting chocolate has become a new trend in the country. Seeing all these changes, these days people want to invest in the chocolate industry as this industry shows a great potential in terms of growth.
Copyright © 2009 - 2025 Restaurant India.