Reading through a popular magazine that featured top five innovative patisseries in India, I quickly sifted through Theobroma first. The name caught my attention instantly and the meaning behind the name hooked me further. Theobroma is a chain of patisseries and cafes established and further managed by a cozy Parsi family of four!
Behind Theobroma are the very synchronized sisters, Kainaz and Tina. Kainaz and Tina’s mum always wanted to start a business of their own and mentioned it time and again to her daughters. Kainaz was trained at Mumbai’s Institute of Hotel Management in Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition. She also had a stint as a pastry chef at the Oberoi group of hotels. With her mother’s desire prodding her to open up a business of their own, Kainaz started thinking about a suitable business. And while she was a teenager, Kainaz spent some time in France to attend a youth exchange programme. She was delirious thinking about all the memories she had in the patisseries in the south of France and this made her ultimately gravitate towards opening a patisserie.
After considering many names for the outlet, a distant relative suggested the name ‘Theobroma’ . ‘Theos’ stands for Gods and ‘broma’ means food which perfectly delivered the meaning ‘Food of the Gods’. Theobroma cacao is also the scientific name for cocoa plant which seemed like the perfect fit for their idea of a patisserie.
In 2004, with the entire family involved, the first Theobroma outlet was opened at the iconic Cusrow Baug at Colaba Causeway, Mumbai. Their initial menu had chicken puffs, chicken rolls, a handful of desserts, and just a duo of brownies: walnut and chocolate chip. As the years went on, chocolates, flaky croissants, and carrot cake also found a place in the menu.
“We had to actually explain some of our products to our guests; at that point, many didn’t know what a real croissant should be like, they were wondering why our croissant was flaking,” Messman mused. She also added that some customers were bewildered by the idea of integrating vegetables into their pastries, especially when they came up with carrot cake.
Instead of opting for pricey imported ingredients, Kainaz tries to make use of locally available produce. Theobroma is known for delivering innovative products and serves sweet treats, a wide range of breads, croissants, and sandwiches. But one item that has truly set them apart from the rest was brownie! From the gooey chocolate and caramel “Millionaire” variant to the red velvet with tangy cream cheese frosting, their brownie ideas were nothing short of being dumbfounding!
“The brownies are basically what made us famous. That sort of become the cornerstone of the business.” says Kainaz.
The sisters also came up with a book with the publishing company HarpersCollins recently. Instead of opting for a recipe book like any other chef, Kainaz opted for a book that depicted their journey.
Theobroma currently has 52 outlets across Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Noida, and Gurgaon. They plan to open stores in Hyderabad and Bengaluru by the end of 2020. As for the future, theobroma plans to have 100 outlets in the next three years.
Ta-da! You’ve got another place to scribble in your bucket list thanks to me! You will surely thank me when you bite into the amazing brownies of Theobroma and feel just like an ancient God after savoring the items at this amazing patisserie! If you already had a sweet bite at any of Theobroma’s outlets, comment below and let us know your experience!
