Why Homemade Chocolates Are A Rage In Tamil Nadu’s Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal, one of the important destinations in Tamil Nadu, is renowned for a plethora of items including its homemade chocolates. According to Local 18 Tamil Nadu, this delicacy remains a must-buy for all the tourists who arrive in Tamil Nadu to enjoy Kodaikanal’s cool climate. Homemade chocolates here are made in three varieties – namely dark, brown and milk chocolate. First, the chocolates are melted and packed in differently-shaped containers. These items are then frozen and then sold to the customers. The chocolates made in Kodaikanal are infused with many nuts and cherries. Due to the climatic conditions in the place, there is no need to store the chocolates made there in a separate freezer. The cool climate here is the reason why the homemade chocolate manufactured there is so famous.

Riaz, the founder of one of the chocolate production units in Kodaikanal, said in an interview, “The machine is used only for melting the chocolates made here. After that, we will pour the chocolate into the container in whatever shape we want. Due to the climate found here, the chocolate freezes quickly.” Riaz added that to make the nut chocolate, they wait for it to melt and then after it has melted, add nuts to it and wait for it to freeze. Once it freezes, and the chocolate is ready, they will take it out of the container and put it for sale purposes.

The chocolates are served to the consumers in different flavours, that is, Mango Filling, Orange Filling and Dark-Honey Filling. The workers in the chocolate production unit have put on gloves while melting and shaping the chocolates.

History of chocolates in Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal’s cool climate is perfect for chocolatiers to begin and store their concoctions, and this was discovered very early on in the 1850s by the American Missionaries. Kodaikanal chocolates gained popularity after India’s independence in 1947 when brands like Cadbury entered the Indian market. The locals in Kodaikanal had a head-start when it came to chocolate making in the country and the entrepreneurs of the hill station jumped on this opportunity.