Way back when I first watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, all I could imagine was getting a Golden Ticket and spending a day in a Chocolate Factory (minus all the plotting and scheming though😅). I recently had a chance to visit one and it did not disappoint!
Located in the pristine Banjara Hills of Hyderabad, India, this chocolate is crafted and perfected with a rich background and story. Manam Chocolate Karkhana is one of the most unique chocolate creators I’ve seen till date. The word ‘Manam’ means ‘We’ or ‘Us’ in Telugu (the language of the Indian State where the store is located). Their goal is to make artisanal chocolates, aiming to put Indian Craft Chocolates on the same stage as Belgian, Swiss or French chocolates.
These ‘Bean-to-Bar’ Chocolate makers are Exploring endless possibilities of cacao and what it has to offer. Spreading over 10,000 sq. ft., this place has a one-of-its-kind immersive experiential space, where it brings together retail and the craft of chocolate making and chocolatiering under one roof! They work closely with 100+ farmer-member community and sister-concern Distinct Origins Cacao Fermentery in West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, India.
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On our recent trip to Hyderabad, we visited Manam and fell in love instantly! From the focus on minute details to the story telling, they aced it all.
As we were entered, we were greeted by a pleasant chocolate fragrance which was the cacao beans being roasted (Talk about authenticity!). We walked around the store and noticed the chocolates on display and for sale. They also had gifting options which ranged from 500 INR (5.75 USD) up till 5000 INR (57.50 USD).
We saw a projector that advised to start our chocolate journey from here and took us through the stages of roasting the cacao beans right until tempering the chocolate and packaging the end products. The cocoa that was slow roasting for a few days, the cracking and winnowing station and the refining and tempering room, all of it truly lived up to the feeling of being in a Chocolate Factory. We then walked to the desserts section that was on display, and they had all kinds of goodies available for consumption ranging from Muffins, Tarts, Cupcakes, Basque Cheesecake slices, Chocolate Babkas, Chocolate Rolls as well as macaroons in SO MANY FLAVOURS! They also had a counter with Ice Cream Bars- ready to dip in a chocolate of your choosing. They also had the viral Chocolate-coated Strawberries and had a pipe that dispensed melted chocolate. These goodies ranged from 150 INR (1.72 USD) to 2500 INR (28.75 USD).
The chocolate factory also does multiple workshops. We didn’t opt for any but here’s the link if you’re interested!
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Manam also had a lower level dedicated to an all-day café setup and the place was packed! We got our table in a couple of minutes, and we got right down to business. Each of us ordered a dish that looked interesting to us but we shared everything. Here’s my frank opinion on each one of them (I’ll be rating them from 1– 10: 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest)
This dish had a killer Kheema (Chicken mince cooked in spices) with a not so yummy egg yolk in the center. The Parotta at the base was hard and felt like a store bought parotta, since it lacked the flakiness and the softness of a freshly made one. It tasted decent when all elements were combined but it didn’t hit the spot. This cost 309.76 INR (3.56 USD) and I’ll rate it a 7/10 overall.
This banger dish was ordered by @yugadi but got devoured by us all! The bed of hummus was rich and creamy, and the falafel was made to crispy perfection. The seasoned onions added another layer of texture and crunch however the Avakaya oil (Mango pickle oil) was a miss, and the dish would have shined without it. This cost 420 INR (4.83 USD) and I would rate it 9.7/10 overall.
This was most definitely a miss. The chicken liver gravy was neither seasoned well nor had outstanding flavors. The only points would go to the soft and fluffy brioche bread it sat on which was divine. @bighungrypanda was the one that ordered this, and he was not impressed either. This costed 446.26 INR (5.13 USD) and I would rate it a measly 5.5/10.
Served over a slice of sourdough, the toast arrived topped with cream cheese, a huge serving of salmon, pickled onions, capers and dill. The Salmon was fresh and smoked to perfection, while the sourdough bread was crunchy and delicious. It was an absolute feast in the mouth and like always, my girlfriend made the right decision by ordering this dish. This cost 472.50 INR (5.43 USD) and while she rated it a 10/10, I would rate it 9/10 (I usually have a thing against cold foods).
This trio festival in the mouth was enjoyed by us all! Consisting of white, milk and dark chocolate cream, this croissant was their best seller, and we realised why it was loved by all. The flavors were on point and the croissant was soft inside and flaky outside. This cost 249.90 INR (2.88 USD). Rating it a 9.5/10.
Personally, this was the best croissant I’ve had and would go back just to have this again. It had all the amazing features of a traditional croissant but was filled with almond frangipane and caramelized cacao nibs. This exquisite dish was loved by us all, mainly for balance of flavor in the frangipane which wasn’t too sweet and pulled through the nutty almond flavor. The bitter-sweet cacao nibs added to this party of textures and flavors! This cost 249.90 INR (2.88 USD). Do I need to say it? 10/10. Such a bomb!
Although buttery, soft and flaky, it lacked the chocolate filling in it. It was stuffed so poorly that it almost looked like the chocolate got there by accident, making it not-so-loved by everyone.
This cost 224.70 INR (2.59 USD). Rating it an overall 7.5/10
This must-try desert was a chef’s kiss and the perfect end to the meal! It was the right combination of all the right things. While being fresh and colourful, it was a delight to see before it was a delight to eat. It was a party of a different textures- crunch from the tart shell, creaminess from the filling and tangy bursts of flavour from the fruit. Pretty rare combination, considering Indian desserts. This cost 179.56 INR (2.07 USD). Rating it a solid 10/10.
We ended our meal with a total bill of 2807.84 INR (32.35 USD) which was including a 5% Tax and a 10% Service Charge. While our stomachs were full, the textbook-sized menu made us want to come back to try more stuff.
And so we did!
On our last day in Hyderabad, we decided to order a late lunch before our travel back to Bangalore.
Since it was just the two of us, we ordered fewer items but we enjoyed it to the core.
This salad consisted of Grilled chicken, salad greens, sliced onions, orange segments and spiced orange dressing. Although I was not a huge fan of the spiced orange dressing, the chicken with some greens and orange segment made for a perfect savoury bite. That being said, there wasn’t anything new or fun. It was just a great salad that can be whipped up just as easily at home. This cost us 498.76 INR (5.75 USD). I would rate it an 8.5/10.
This main course was an Italian marvel! Although we were skeptical to order anything with a tomato sauce (the sweetness if not balanced out gets overpowering), this dish proved otherwise! There was a bit of sweetness, along with herbiness from the basil and the saltiness from the cheesy cannelloni. This cost 551.26 INR (6.35 USD) and has to be the most filling plate of food we've ever had at a cafe. I would rate it a 9/10.
This banger was loved by both of us! While my girlfriend was very hesitant to order this since she’s not a fan of cinnamon, this was another dish that proved us wrong. While the brioche bread had some notes of cinnamon and nutmeg, it was subtle and the caramel with the pecans took it to another level. It was topped off with vanilla cream cheese that took it from great to the greatest. Such an amazing one and so wonderfully done. This costed 175.36 INR (2.02 USD) and I would rate it 100000/10.
Rating it overall 7/10. This was a bit of a let-down and we were sad this was the end to an otherwise fabulous meal. This beautiful tart that was topped with two small pieces of edible gold was just that - a pretty tart. The hazelnut was barely there and there was a bit too much of apple, with too much of a bite - the mouth feel was almost raw apples in caramel. This wasn't for either of us. It cost 179.56 INR (2.07 USD) and I would rate it a 4/10.
We ended our meal paying a total of 1,545.44 INR (17.81 USD) all inclusive. As we moved towards the exit, the realization hit us that this place is not in our city, and we would have to travel a long way to come here again. With the sad reality check, we bought some chocolates!
We bought a small bar of their Signature Blend chocolate, which was blended with mixed origin Vietnamese cacao and 43% milk. We also bought a big bar of their Coffee and Milk Chocolate Infusion Tablet with 38% milk . These cost 250 and 425 INR (2.88 and 4.90 USD) respectively paying a total 675 INR (7.78 USD). They had a lovely range of dark chocolates and white chocolates too. They also had fun combinations in their Signature Inclusion series like Coconut-Almond, Mint-Matcha, Chai biscuit, Coffee crunch, Raspberry-Rose and many more. Although these caught our eye, we didn't have a lot of time on our hands and had to leave it for another time.
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As I eat these chocolates, I realize why Manam is not just any other chocolate place. It lives up to its story using the best resources our country has to offer and this comes through in their art of chocolate making. The flavor of the chocolate, the melt-in-the-mouth texture and the mild fragrance of the cacao transports me right back to their store. My kudos to the team that makes this happen. While we still hope to get back there to eat the Pecan Rolls again, for now we plan on savoring the chocolates as a reminder of this wonderful place.
If you're in Hyderabad, then I would highly recommend you visit this gem of a place!
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