The 4,000-year-old delicacy has travelled across oceans from its humble origins in Mexico and has found its modern home in Belgium. Love for chocolates is the same all around the globe, but the millennium city of Hong Kong has embraced it like no other. From being the Asian home to many luxury European and American chocolates to discovering its own distinct flavor, Hong Kong has opened the chocolate factory to the rest of Asia. Hong Kong is also the desired location for Indians to satisfy their taste buds and indulge in enjoying the world of chocolate and other cocoa-based delicacies. Here’s a list of 5 must-try local chocolate brands in Hong Kong.
Hakawa
Tucked away in the crowded Central neighbourhood, lies a modest craft chocolate shop by the name of Hakawa. The Hakawa name is derived from a combination of the words "Hong Kong" and "kakawa," which in Olmec is known as cacao. Despite being small, since its opening in 2017, it has contributed to Hong Kong's artisan chocolate revolution. This is one of the few permanent locations that sell bean-to-bar chocolates. If you wish for traditional chocolates, you can try their 74% dark chocolate.
The Peninsula Boutique
One of the first chocolatiers in the city, The Peninsula Boutique, brought western delicacies to Hong Kong when it opened its doors in 1928. Twenty years later, the boutique made news again when it started to produce its own handmade chocolates. The Peninsula Archives' historical recipes, which detail the creation of the city's first truffles and pralines and are now considered classics in the Heritage Collection. The chocolates are artisanal and created in-house, which not only makes fantastic souvenirs but also a decadent gift or treat for special occasions. Its distinctive flavours are evidence of its ingenuity, and boxes of fruit, nut, and alcoholic chocolates can be customised to suit any palate.