Imported chocolates like frey, selbourne, callebaut and exotic cakes like bagatelle, Irish toffee and cold coffee cake are the flavours this Christmas
One place Santa surely needs to be this Christmas is the bakeries around the city, if he really cares for all things exotic. Chocolates topped with cherries and nuts is passé, he will get to pamper his tastebuds with chocolates glistening with the dust of gold and the ones flavoured with dried cranberry with orange. As we know people are well-travelled and aware of what’s going around in the world, more than variety they look for exclusivity. Therefore, the chefs in the city burnt the midnight oil pondering on what can be the most exotic variety to offer this Christmas.
Chocolate cantucci, almond cantucci, chocolate squares, handmade chocolate tiles or some fancy tailor-made chocolates with the likes of snowman, Santa and Christmas trees topped on them…there’s an array of exotic chocolates available. Says pastry chef Jameel Ahmed, The Old Baker, Jaypee Vasant Continental, “People have a sweet tooth in this country and therefore, there is an expanding market for chocolates anyway. Even companies are churning out huge revenue because of that. Exotic chocolates are selling more and they have almost replaced traditional sweets. For Christmas, people are going for unique gifting items, and not just baked cakes, and what’s better the exotic chocolates, since they are customised.”
Radhieka Mittal, founder and owner of Exotic Cakes and Desserts feels that people have started understanding the quality of exotic chocolates. She says, “People understand the quality of chocolate now. However, there are some people who think that exotic chocolates are overpriced. So, a lot of people buy small quantities to save money.” Jasjeet Singh, owner Kanny Chocolates added, “Earlier there was lesser availability of them and people were unaware of better quality stuff. This time the sales are better and this is only because exotic chocolates are readily available now.” Exotic chocolates come in different varieties. According to Radhieka, edible gold and silver chocolates are the bestsellers. “We have been getting huge orders for these chocolates. The gold chocolates have 24-carat edible gold powder on it. Apart from that, dried cranberry with orange chocolates are selling like hot cakes. We are also making Indian and Thai flavours in chocolates like masala tea, lavender and rose flavoured chocolates. Even printed chocolates are on demand,” she shared. Swiss Bakery and Cafe of Moevenpick Hotel and Spa, Bengaluru, is offering frey, selbourne and callebaut chocolates.