Dry fruits and mithai are passé. Diwali has acquired a whole new flavour, with liqueur bonbons, dry fruit pralines, Belgian ganaches and single origin bars becoming
gifts of choice for many this festive season.
“Mithai is too predictable!” says Jatin Khullar, 20, whose family has opted to gift chocolates in the shape of champagne bottles to friends and family this Diwali. “These ‘bottles’ are classy and unique,” he says.
“My husband and I are gifting liqueur chocolates to friends,” says BPO executive Anjali Pathak, 26, adding, “They cost as much as a box of good mithai would, and we know our friends will enjoy them more.”
The trend is translating into brisk business for shops. Sanjiv Obhrai of Chocolatiers in CR Park reports “mind-boggling” sales. “We are totally sold out these days. Diwali business has doubled [from previous year’s],” he says, citing recent reports of adulteration in mithai as a major reason. The big sellers at his boutique shop are cracker-shaped ‘Pataka’ chocolates, champagne bottle-lookalike Gambler chocolates and decks of chocolate playing cards!
It’s happy times at Choko La, too. Hariender Kasana, manager of the store’s Khan Market branch, says their single origin ‘rock’ chocolates — chocolate-coated dry fruits — are in maximum demand. “Our chocolate-and-champagne gift hampers are also selling well,” he says.
{{/usCountry}}It’s happy times at Choko La, too. Hariender Kasana, manager of the store’s Khan Market branch, says their single origin ‘rock’ chocolates — chocolate-coated dry fruits — are in maximum demand. “Our chocolate-and-champagne gift hampers are also selling well,” he says.
{{/usCountry}}Girish Kumar, owner, Bengali Sweet House, is stocking chocolate hampers along with traditional sweets. He believes the popularity of mithai hasn’t gone down. “There’re just many more choices available....itna gifting hota hai ki log sochte hain kuchh non-perishable item bhi gift kar dein,” he says.
The trend is not restricted to boutique-made, premium chocolates, however. Aditi Sinha, 24, has made chocolates at home to gift to friends. “It’s all about putting in that extra thought in your Diwali gift,” she says.