Not Belgium or Switzerland, you can

now indulge in luxury chocolates

#MadeInIndia
ITC's luxury chocolate brand, Fabelle, is making the finest
handcrafted chocolates that India has seen so far.

Shibani Bawa | Posted by Shreya Goswami

October 27, 2016 | UPDATED 18:51 IST
A +A -

This 84 per cent signature dark chocolate petit cake with fleur de sell can tempt anybody. Photo:
Fabelle
Chocolates have been around for centuries now. They might have first been grown and used in
Central and South America, but it was the Western European countries that took it all over the
world, and made it as popular as it is today. It is a well-known fact today that famous chocolates
are produced in countries like Belgium and Switzerland, countries that source the finest cocoa
from different parts of the world.
So why can't a country like India, with its immense culinary heritage and genius also be a part of
this elite group of luxury chocolate creators?
That's exactly the thought which worked as an incentive for the ITC group. Under the direction
of their chairman, Yogi Deveshwar, they decided to produce world-class chocolates in India.
This didn't just take almost 10 years of intensive research and the import of cocoa from Africa
and South America. It took the mastery of the art and techniques of making handcrafted
chocolates.

This year, ITC's luxury hotels finally launched Fabelle, a boutique dedicated to that one product
the whole world can unify to indulge in--handcrafted chocolates.

Fabulous Fabelle
So what makes Fabelle's chocolates world-class? Single origin cocoas from the seven best cocoa
growing regions in Africa and South America (such as Madagascar, Ivory Coast, Venezuela,
Saint Domingue and Sao Tome) have been combined with gourmet ingredients such as Acacia
nectar, French sea salt, Ancho chilli to create decadent chocolate pralines, ganache and
exquisitely crafted desserts and cocoa beverages.

Although emulsifiers have been used, there are no added preservatives in these chocolates. This
means that the shelf-life is quite limited--45 days to 6 months depending on what you buy. You
can refrigerate the chocolates, but they are best eaten at room temperature. It might seem like a
considerable negative, but the taste and quality is makes the wait totally worth it. After all, what's
a wait of 10-15 minutes when you can pop some of the most scrumptious ganache in your
mouth?

A Chocolicious Experience
The aroma of rich cocoa welcomes us into the Fabelle Boutique at ITC Maurya. While the
exquisite cocoa is processed into luscious chocolate in Bengaluru, many chocolates and desserts
are created right here in the show kitchen. You can take your pick from single bite ganache and
pralines with exquisite fillings and flavour combinations; order a gourmet dessert or beverage;
and even create your own chocolate cup with a choice of dark or milk chocolate, fillings ranging
from dark choco creme or white creme to berry preserve or caramel, and upto two toppings from
almond slices and cocoa nibs to arabica coffee to powdered sugar.
Personalised Chocolate Cup Creations are a must have at Fabelle's chocolate boutiques. Photo: Fabelle
Frappe of Madagascar chocolate is just one of the chocolate beverages Fabelle has to offer. Photo: Fabelle
Indulge in the theatrical delight of this Chocolate Flower. Photo: Fabelle
While you relax in the luxe seating, order a beverage or two from a choice of flavours in iced
chocolate or warm cocoa. We would suggest the Smores chocolate milk made with pure Ghana
milk chocolate with flame charred marshmallows and chocolate chips. Then there are signature
chocolate entremets, inspired chocolate bites and theatrical delights that offer an exquisite
plating and drama as in the Chocolate Flower that unfolds at your table.

These handcrafted chocolate ganaches are to die for. Photo: Fabelle

These handcrafted pralines are a delight to gift to your loved ones. Photo: Fabelle
Diwali Delight
For this festive season there is a range of exquisite hampers, and boxes of ganache as well as
special range of chocolates named Elements--intricately crafted pralines inspired by the elements
of nature. A box of 20 cubes of ganache in one of the three flavours - creamy milk, rich dark or
rich dark with apple and cinnamon--priced at Rs 745.

Elements features Earth with a dark chocolate pod filled with a dark mousse, encrusted with
rocky chocolate; Air with a light, aerated mousse embraced by delectable dark chocolate; Water
with dark chocolate mousse dripping with acacia nectar, laced with French sea salt and
enveloped in a rich-dark chocolate shell; Wood with a log made with chocolate, cinnamon,
coffee and mousse; and Fire with fiery Ancho chilli on top of a dark chocolate shell filled with
white mousse and candied mango. These handcrafted pralines come in different sized boxes,
with a box of 5 for Rs 450, box of 10 for Rs 850 and a box of 20 for Rs 1595.
Details:
Fabelle boutiques are available at the ITC Gardenia in Bengaluru, ITC Sonar in Kolkata, ITC
Grand Chola in Chennai and ITC Maurya in New Delhi, with ITC Grand Maratha in Mumbai
following soon.
Fabelle, ITC Maurya, Sardar Patel Marg, Diplomatic Enclave, New Delhi.
Timings: 11am - 12.30am.
Tel: 011 46215152/2611 2233