News

India’s Halwai Legacy Meets Modern Craft as Amara Makes Its Debut

Amara launches with a flagship store and 10 satellite stores in Bengaluru, bringing elevated regional flavours.

 Amara is officially open, introducing Bengaluru to a new kind of dessert experience, one that bridges India’s rich regional heritage with contemporary craft. The brand launches with its flagship store in Indiranagar, along with 10 satellite stores across Bengaluru. It marks the arrival of India’s first premium, frozen dessert brand built around collaboration with generational halwais. At Amara, dessert recipes passed down over decades are given a thoughtful makeover using new-age formats, delivering flavour profiles that feel elevated and new, while remaining deeply nostalgic.

For decades, India’s most iconic cold desserts have remained regional treasures, tied to specific cities and seasons, carried forward through memory rather than accessibility. Meetha paan belonged to Banaras. Gudbud was a Udupi speciality. Chikki was synonymous with Lonavala. Meanwhile, the premium dessert market has largely been shaped by Western formats or mass-produced sweets that lack cultural depth and emotional connection.

Amara exists to address this gap. The brand brings together cold desserts from across India, working directly with traditional halwais whose families have preserved these recipes for generations. Everything at Amara is made with 100% real milk and natural ingredients, with zero preservatives, following time-honoured techniques that have stood the test of time.

“We realised there was a clear gap in the premium dessert space,” says Edwin Daniel, Co-founder of Amara, “India has extraordinary regional dessert traditions, but they were either hyper-local or not presented in a contemporary format. We wanted to bring these flavours together on one platform – not as fusion, but as respectful reinterpretations that make them accessible year-round, without losing their authenticity.”

Amara’s debut collection reads like a map of India’s sweetest memories. From the North comes the Meetha Paan Sundae – a post-meal dessert that captures the taste of paan in a modern format. From the South comes Gadibadi, a modern interpretation of the Mangalore classic Gudbud. From the West, there is the Lonavala Salted Caramel Chikki Sundae. The menu also features a dessert that encapsulates the taste of the masala chai-soaked Parle-G biscuit that so many fondly remember. Rounding out the collection are creative interpretations like Filter Kaapi ice cream, Gulkhand Rose Sundae, and Desi Tres Leches.

“With the launch of a flagship store and 10 satellite stores, our focus is on reach and accessibility from day one. We wanted Amara to feel premium but approachable – a brand that can scale while staying rooted in authenticity. Bengaluru is the right city to begin this journey; it embraces craft and innovation. This is just the start of building a nationally relevant dessert brand,” said Jeff Jose, Co-founder of Amara.

The Indiranagar store is designed like traditional Indian homes, featuring red oxide floors and rattan furniture that reflect the warmth and familiarity of Indian households. The space celebrates the pride and legacy of Indian dessert-making, creating an environment that feels nostalgic yet contemporary, much like the desserts themselves.

Amara enters the market at the right moment. Indian consumers are increasingly moving away from mass-produced sweets toward artisanal, heritage-driven indulgences made in small batches with unadulterated ingredients. The brand fills a clear gap: premium frozen desserts that are unmistakably Indian, deeply rooted in regional tradition, and presented with confidence.


About Author

India’s Halwai Legacy Meets Modern Craft as Amara Makes Its Debut
Food Entrepreneurs Alliance

FEA groups are managed by Innovative Food Entrepreneurs Associates LLP, an enterprise working for the social cause of the food industry. These groups cover various segments of the food industry including but not limited to hotels, resorts, camps, homestays, restaurants, cafes, tearooms, caterers, cafeteria and food court operators, bakeries, ice-cream, mithai shops, farsan and other snack shops, bakeries, confectionery manufacturers, cake and dessert shops, and even home based food entrepreneurs who make chocolates, cakes, pickles and masalas.

FEA Founder

From 1992, I have written extensively about the food and hospitality industry. The Food Service Sector has always impressed me with the kind of employment it generates at all levels from semi-skilled workers to professionals.

Subscribe to Our
News letter

Sign up with your email address to recieve news & updates

Recent Posts

Bobby’s Burger at Orlando International Airport

  Feb 26, 2026

TAJ MADIKERI RESORT & SPA, COORG REINFORCES ITS SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENT THROUGH BIODIVERSITY INITIATIVES

  Feb 20, 2026

ITDC Marks 60 Years & The Ashok 70 Years – Launches Multi-Dimensional Tech-Enabled Initiatives

  Feb 20, 2026

Popular Tags