A Field Guide to Indian Chocolate

India’s relationship with chocolate is young but moving fast — from a few mass-market milk bars to a genuine craft scene growing its own cocoa.

The household names

Cadbury Dairy Milk has been the taste of celebration for generations; Amul brought affordable chocolate to every corner shop; Nestlé and others fill the everyday shelf. These are milk-forward, sweet and built for the Indian climate and palate.

The new craft wave

Makers in the south — close to the cocoa farms of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka — are producing single-origin dark bars that compete internationally. They lean drier, more intense and origin-driven, and have put Indian cocoa on the world map.

Flavours that feel like home

• Roasted nuts — almond and cashew bars are a local favourite.
• Spice — cardamom, chilli and even paan-inspired bars.
• Fruit — mango, coconut and other tropical notes.