Oona

Peace is the highest form of being. Live it with a cup of Cacao.

15/11/2025

Manbina’s post‑yoga recipe: cacao with dates + chamomile, a quiet ritual for recovery and calm.

Ingredients:
10g Oona's cacao (we used Anamalai for this)
1 cup of water
2 cloves
1 cardamom
1/2 tbsp chamomile
1-1 1/2 tbsp date syrup

Try it today and tell us how you like.

11/11/2025

Cacao toddy: A drink for the winter. Not just exceptionally delicious but also keeps you warm and healthy in the cold.

Recipe for Oona's Cacao toddy:
15g Oona's cacao (we used Anamalai for this)
1 cup of water
tiny shards of cinnamon and star anise and 1 clove
ginger juice: ginger & water ground in a mixer and strained
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp sugar

05/11/2025

The world that we grew up in does not exist anymore. But the things that made up that world are not all lost.

Take for instance, letter writing. There is something deeply intimate and intentional about writing letters. It requires you to carve out time and space, collect your thoughts and reflect on what it is that you truly wish to express to the other person.

At Oona that's exactly what we do - create this time and space for you. So the next time you visit us, get yourself a cup of cacao, write some letters, swap instant and urgent for slow and intentional.

[Oona cacao & chocolate, Ranikhet, Chocolate Factory in Ranikhet, Things to do in Ranikhet]

22/10/2025

We would describe Oona as a place where we mould the chocolates and at the same time, break the mould. We don't just run a chocolate factory, but a sanctuary. A place of joy, calm and peace. That's what last Saturday felt like. We opened up for our dear friends as a way to express our gratitude and to share this place with them. It was a day fuelled by community, cacao and delicious food. A day that went by in the blink of an eyelid, but will continue to live as the most special memory. A day that will forever feel like a hug.

[Oona chocolates & cacao, Ranikhet, Things to do in Ranikhet]

10/10/2025

We are tasting a new chocolate today!! Our old coconut bar is undergoing a makeover and it really is delicious now. Coming soon!!

P.S. If you are around Ranikhet, come visit the factory. You might get to taste many delicious things long before they are launched :).

21/09/2025

Not just a chocolate factory. But a place to be you. Yes, take the tour and do the tasting. But also come for something more. Come to be you. Get in touch with us for more details!

08/09/2025

When we hear the words “factory” or “manufacturing unit”, it is only natural to envision a space that is clinical and utilitarian. A space of pure functionality and practicality. May be in an industrial estate where work and people are contained in neatly stacked, identical boxes. We started out in one such place - a windowless, artificially lit unit in a commercial complex. It served its purpose, but it never felt right.

As people deeply drawn to nature, we found ourselves dreaming of fresh air, trees, and light - in our opinion, the ideal environment to make food. We wanted our surroundings to reflect our values back to us – to inspire us to always stand by our commitment to do and create what’s good and to fuel our creativity rather than drain it. After all, we never saw our work as only “manufacturing” or “production,” but as creation. And creativity, for us, has always thrived in calm, life-affirming spaces.

So, we asked ourselves, “why not?” Why should we not work in a setting that makes us feel good and alive. Who said that you can’t be sorting cacao beans while looking at a butterfly outside the window, or pack chocolates while feeling the breeze drift in? Why couldn’t a break be under a tree instead of under fluorescent lights? Why should workspaces only be functional, and not beautiful?

Moving our work to the mountains was our way of answering that question. It wasn’t the obvious or the easiest choice — but it was the truest one for us. Because at Oona, we believe that places of work can also be places of joy, beauty, and inspiration. And for us, that makes all the difference – in how we feel and what we do.

30/08/2025

A home that found us. A home that existed in our dreams became a reality. Our journey in the mountains started with a small space in Suriyagaon. The need to grow and spread, led us on a search for a bigger space. Along the way, we met so many people and the one question that would be asked each time – “What kind of space are you looking for?”. Our response - “A space about 1000 Sq. ft in size. Off the road, but close enough to bring in the supplies easily. Set amidst trees. Some open space around. A quiet spot.” The words repeated countless times for about 2 years, until we came to a realization that may be this place existed only in our imagination. So, we had to place this dream aside and left the mountains.

The next 6 months were spent in Haldwani – working, getting used to the new city and looking at the mountains from our rooftop. We found reasons to be grateful for where we were. Then came April bearing inspiration and something told us to search for a place in the mountains again. But this time, it felt different. We approached it as an adventure, giving ourselves about a month to be utterly, foolishly optimistic about finding “the place”.

The question came again – “What kind of a place are you looking for?”. Our answer, the same. So, the adventure began. But soon we were running out of time and energy. We gave ourselves, an end date – 7th June, 2025 – the last day – which started even before daybreak to beat the tourist traffic. As the day progressed, our chances looked dim.

At noon, parked at a crossroads, we decided to make one, last call with a direct request – “if there is any other place, please let us know. Today is the last day”. The voice on the other end paused and then called us to Kalika, Ranikhet. In 30 minutes, we arrived, some pleasantries and then we were directed down a set of steps. A few steps in and we could not believe our eyes. Neither of us spoke a word, but our hearts were smiling.

It was a space 1000 Sq. ft in size. Off the road, but close enough to bring in the supplies easily. Set amidst trees. Some open space around. A quiet spot.

Home.

01/06/2025

Today we completed 6 years of being in business and it felt right to walk down the memory lane. What a journey it has been! So much has changed and that includes what we do, we as people and our focus. But some things have remained the same - our ability to stand in the face of challenge and our commitment to always do what's good. We are filled with gratitude towards the journey and the people who enabled it.

Our 6 years in pictures:
1. Binsar, May, 2018 - Sai .air decided to quit his job to learn chocolate making
2. Mysore, July, 2018 - Sai nomore an IT professional but an intern at a Chocolate factory
3. Bombay, April 2019 - Sai returned and we set up our first chocolate factory
4. Satkhol, May 2019 - Took a break before we officially started and this trip brought us face to face with the reality of the place that we would later call home. This trip solidified our value system
5. June, 2019 - Cochoa's first packaging is ready
6. October 2019 - The first gifting season is upon us. Family members turn teammates and we pull it off! Special thanks to and .k.ojha for always having our backs
7. February 2020 - we participated in the biggest cultural festival of Bombay - Kala Ghoda. It was crazy, exhilarating and gave us the confidence we needed
8. November 2020 - COVID. Acted on the thought of moving to the mountains.
9. We stayed in Suriyagaon, a small village overlooking the Sattal Lake
10. Found a new home for Cochoa in Suriyagaon
11. February 2021 - Goodbye Bombay, hello mountains
12. Our first room in Suriyagaon
13. Another first - got featured in Mumbai Midday, a daily newspaper
14. Experimenting for new products. Started working with Buransh. But it did not quite land.
15. Some experiments worked. Like Bonobo - a layered chocolate with banana, peanut butter and milk chocolate.
16. March 2023 - Heartbreak. A house we wanted to lease out and restore into a chocolate factory. But it fell through at the last moment
17. Cacao became a part of our life and we were shown a new direction
18. The first of our Cacao Immersion which would change everything - including our name and what we do
19. Dec. 2023 - We became Oona

10/05/2025

Cacao supports your menstrual cycle in multiple ways. The nutrients available in cacao are what your body requires for an easier and comfortable period. Here’s how cacao helps you:

Magnesium – Cacao is one of the best natural sources of Magnesium. It relaxes the uterine muscles, soothes cramps, aches and pains. It also calms your nervous system, playing an important role in overall relaxation, improved sleep, and helping with PMS-related anxiety.

Tryptophan + PEA - Tryptophan triggers production of serotonin, which is responsible for feelings of joy and regulation of mood. PEA (phenylethylamine) also supports serotonin and dopamine levels thereby improving mental clarity. Serotonin and Dopamine, can drop during your luteal and menstrual phases — contributing to mood swings, emotional lows or overwhelm. Cacao helps regulate the mood during these phases and leads to a steady and regulated emotional state.

Iron – During menstruation, you lose iron through shedding of endometrial lining and blood, which can lead to fatigue, brain fog, and low energy. Cacao being a great source of iron, replenishes body’s iron stores and supports production of red blood cells and haemoglobin. Tip: Pair cacao with vitamin C-rich foods like berries or oranges to increase iron absorption!

Antioxidants – Cramping and pain during periods are often triggered by inflammation and high prostaglandin levels (aids contraction of the uterine lining, but its high levels lead to cramping and pain). Cacao is rich in flavonoids and antioxidants that help calm inflammation, reduce bloating, and ease physical discomfort — from cramps to body aches.

Zinc – Zinc is a trace mineral your body uses to support hormone balance, wound healing, and immune strength. It's especially helpful during your cycle for dealing with breakouts, strengthening your immune system, and supporting progesterone production which is essential for a healthy and regular menstrual cycle.

So, your chocolate cravings aren’t just emotional. They are your body’s very real call for nutritional support that is available through cacao. Include cacao in your diet and let it support you through your menstrual cycle.

01/04/2025

What's the difference between cacao and coffee? A question we have been asked often. We answer this question in detail. Keep scrolling.

10/03/2025

Another thing you might not know is that cacao is good for the heart.

Find your calm with cacao. Freshly ground at Oona - link in bio.

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Website

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Better chocolate. Better world.

This is our story. It begins in the Himalayas, which has always been close to our hearts for its absolute purity. On one of our treks deep in the mountains, we found a heap of plastic waste being burnt. It was just the beginning. Wrappers flowing in pristine waters high in the mountains. Rampant cutting down of trees. And it never ends. Sadly nothing is pure anymore. Not our food. Not our water. Not our chocolates. Right there in the mountains, we decided that we had to bring about a change. Our planet and our lives had to get better and we wanted to create new and amazing foods. We began with what we knew well - chocolate. We named it 'Cochoa' after a bird that lives in the Himalayas. Thus began a journey across India in search of pure ingredients grown by honest and responsible people who truly cared. And only when we found them, did we come back and start our small factory where we began creating 'the new'. At Cochoa we are mindful that nothing we do causes harm to us and our planet in any way. This is the new world we wish to create. This is just the beginning. Let us all create a better world together.