Cacao Country

From Idukki to Mysuru, this World Chocolate Day, we follow the South Indian chocolate trail for a decadent trip!

- SRUSHTI KULKARNI

In the foothills of the Anamalai hills near Coimbatore, chocolate grows in the shade of banana trees and black pepper vines. Here lies Regal Plantations, home to Soklet, India's first tree-to-bar chocolate brand, where our journey begins. At this family-run estate, visitors can walk through dense cacao groves, learn how the pods are harvested and fermented on-site and taste bars that reflect the terroir of Tamil Nadu's tropical belt—bold, earthy and faintly nutty.

Their 85 percent intense dark chocolate and Indian-origin spice blends have made waves in the craft chocolate scene, with exports now reaching Europe and Japan.

From here, the trail winds to Auroville, Tamil Nadu, where Mason & Co is quietly redefining India's chocolate vocabulary. Founded by Jane Mason and Fabien Bontems, the brand champions bean-to-bar sustainability with cacao sourced directly from organic farmers in Kerala and Karnataka.

Their flagship café, Bread & Chocolate, serves everything from cacao granola to vegan mousse, while the chocolate studio offers curated tasting experiences. With sleek design and single-origin purity, Mason & Co's bars—like the 70 percent with sea salt or coconut milk—are crafted for discerning palettes.