How many chocolate flavours are you familiar with? Ever wondered what it would be like to enter a world where everything from clothes and caps to hills is made of chocolate? If you find these possibilities interesting, head to Ooty's YWCA, Anandagiri, in Davisdale. The 'Chocostory' chocolate festival in Ooty, organised by M&N Chocolates, has begun here, featuring miniature hill models made using 210 kg of chocolate, among several other highlights. What else is in store at the event?

Variety of chocolates
One of the key attractions of the festival is the wide range of chocolates with unique flavours, including wild mushroom, wild honey, organic tea, pepper, gooseberry, and many more. From sweet and bitter chocolate varieties to sour, spicy, umami (savoury/meaty), and even salty tastes, the fest can be a revelation for 'daredevils.' A unique product showcased at the festival uses 12–15 per cent beetroot, which helps reduce sugar content while enhancing health benefits. The chocolate contains 70 per cent cocoa, with the remaining portion comprising beetroot and sugar. At the Chocolate Museum here, visitors can also learn about the origin of chocolate and the process of its making. 

Tourists also get a peek into the history, evolution, and uniqueness of chocolates at the chocolate festival. Photo: Special Arrangement
Tourists also get a peek into the history, evolution, and uniqueness of chocolates at the chocolate festival. Photo: Special Arrangement

What visitors get to explore
Tourists also get a peek into the history, evolution, and uniqueness of chocolates here. According to Fazalur Rahman, a certified chocolate product developer and one of the two young brothers who have completed seven professional courses in chocolate making, the event helps chocolate enthusiasts gain a deeper understanding of chocolate's history, its origins, and the wide variety of chocolates made with indigenous natural produce. M&N chocolates also organises national and international workshops on chocolate-making every year during February and March.

Support for cocoa farmers
Established in 1942, M&N Chocolates has been supporting cocoa farmers in the Nilgiris, Idukki, and Pollachi by helping them cultivate and produce better-quality cocoa with improved industry connectivity. The firm assists farmers by providing better fermentation techniques and by purchasing the entire cocoa fruit without prior processing.

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Beneficiaries
Apart from local cocoa farmers, the Chocolate Festival also benefits indigenous communities like the Baduga and communities including the Toda, Kurumba, and Irula. Members of these communities collect natural produce, such as wild honey, mushrooms, and gooseberries, which are used to add flavour to the chocolates. 

One of the key attractions of the chocolate festival is the wide range of chocolates with unique flavours. Photo: Special Arrangement
One of the key attractions of the chocolate festival is the wide range of chocolates with unique flavours. Photo: Special Arrangement

About the event
A 16-year-old annual event is organised by young entrepreneurs Abdul Rahman and Fazalur Rahman at the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) building in Ooty every December. The festival will conclude on January 4, 2026.

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Visitor information
Timing: 9.30 am to 8.30 pm
Location: YWCA, Anandagiri, Ettines Road, Davisdale
Entry Fee: ₹50 (includes a complimentary chocolate)

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