Ooty: 

If it is A.R. Rahman for music, then it is Rahman brothers in the Nilgiris hills for home-made chocolates. The choco-brothers, well-known in the home-made chocoloate industry, have opened a new chapter in the annals of home-made chocolates as they have set up their chocolate museum — M&N Chocolate Museum — on Mysore Road, near HPF factory.

The brothers claim it’s a first-of-its-kind in the country and it gives an insight into the history of chocolate-making, especially the home-made chocolate.

The museum, with its vintage architecture and interiors that remind one of British country architecture, also boasts of models of horse carts, boat, idols, chocolate fountain, ancient chocolate making implements, cocoa seeds and the photographs of three Swiss men who were pioneers in home-made chocolate-making, along with signages on the health benefits of chocolates, besides a counter to house varieties of home-made chocolates.

Fazloor, the younger of the duo, who completed a course on chocolate-making at Ecolechocolate Institute in Canada and who conducted quite a few innovative shows on home-made chocolates here in the past, said home-made chocolates are a roaring confectionery industry now as people from all walks of life like them.

“The cool weather profile in Ooty gives a special flavour and taste to the home-made chocolates. We make a little more than 100 varieties of home-made chocolates using nuts, resins, dry fruits and even some herbs. Home-made chocolates need special touch of the hands to bring out the desired taste.

Of course, Ooty is famed for its nature, flowers, vegetables, spices and fruits. Home-made chocolates of Ooty, which carved a name for themselves, are extra-natural attraction in the field of confectionery with a touch of delicacy. That is why they easily attract the locals and tourists,” he added.

His brother Abdul, a mechanical engineer by profession who turned a chocolatier with some inspiration and help from his brother, said the chocolate museum is an attempt to give the much-needed insight into the history of chocolate-making which dates back to the Mayan era.

The Mayans were known to be the first users of cocoa. Cocoa is the basic ingredient in chocolates and in these modern times, home-made chocolate-making has leavened by vari-
ous innovations.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / by B. Ravichandran, DC / April 27th, 2013