The New Indian Express ·
Inside Manam’s chocolate bar
Have you ever walked into a chocolate factory and felt like a child again, eyes widening at every shelf, wondering which chocolate you should taste first? Now imagine that factory not only making chocolates and desserts, but turning them into warm, cold, creamy, and surprisingly refreshing drinks right in front of you. That is the feeling at Manam Chocolate Karkhana in Banjara Hills, which has added another chocolatey feather to its hat with the new Manam Chocolate Beverage Bar.
Tucked into a compact 100 sqft corner between the retail shelves and the live production kitchen, the Beverage Bar may be small, but it is hard to miss. An L-shaped counter puts the Chocolate Beverage Barista right at the centre, making the preparation part of the experience. Terracotta accents, inspired by Manam's chocolate tablets, line the bar, while a ceiling mural by artist Namrata Kumar depicts cacao being harvested in the farms of West Godavari.
We started with the Chilli Milk Chocolate, a hot blend of 45 percent milk and 67 percent dark chocolate. The Guntur chilli arrives gently, leaving a little warmth behind without taking over the chocolate. Next came the Orange Iced Chocolate, made with 60 percent dark chocolate and orange juice. Unlike a thick, sugary chocolate drink, this one was lighter, with a citrusy freshness that allowed the chocolate's fruity notes to shine.
