The Scoop: Annie Rupani fell in love with chocolate while studying for the LSAT exam, and now she runs a chocolate emporium called Cacao & Cardamom to share her passion for the culinary arts with Houston. Cacao & Cardamom has a gourmet selection of chocolates that showcase whimsical flavors and artful designs. Customers can personalize their orders at Cacao & Cardamom to go beyond a simple box of chocolate and wow their significant others with a special treat.
Cacao & Cardamom offers a sensory smorgasbord from the moment you step in the doors of the Houston chocolate shop. This chocolate lovers heaven is crammed with colorful chocolate bars, bites, and truffles as well as chocolate high heels and chocolate lipsticks that dazzle on sight.
Once you start reading the descriptions, your mouth starts to water at all the different flavor profiles. You have nutty morsels on one side and passion fruit confections on another side, and it’s hard to decide where to start.
Every chocolate bon-bon has been handcrafted by chocolatiers who know what they’re doing and love to surprise customers with imaginative creations.
“We want the joy of eating chocolate to start with your eyes,” said Cacao & Cardamom owner Annie Rupani. “The aesthetics of our chocolates is very important to the overall experience of chocolate.”
Cacao & Cardamom isn’t your typical chocolate shop, and its upscale treats are highly sought-after during holidays and wedding season. Couples particularly enjoy perusing the decadent products on these shelves and picking out some sweets to share on a date or present as a Valentine’s Day gift.
Decadent & Unique Flavors Inspired by Global Cultures
People come from far and wide to sample the artisan chocolate confections on display at Cacao & Cardamom. The Houston shop’s customers range from foodie families to corporate clients to couples on a date. It’s common to see couples stroll in for an after-dinner treat or celebratory surprise.
Cacao & Cardamom is particularly busy during the Valentine’s Day season when romantics are looking for out-of-the-box gifts. The store’s handcrafted chocolates can impress daters and give them an indulgence they can savor for weeks or gobble up in one night.
“We have over 40 different bon-bons and truffles, each with a unique flavor profile that will take your taste buds on an adventure,” Annie said.
The C&C team turns every chocolate morsel into a work of art. Its hand-painted gems have unique flavor profiles that couples can explore and enjoy together. All creations are all-natural with fresh spices, roasted nuts, and tangy fruits that compliment the luscious white, dark, and milk chocolates.
Throughout the year, the chocolatiers will often showcase seasonal flavors, including pumpkin, sweet potato, or lavendar, and tempt in-store customers with gelato and “drinking chocolate,” which is a rich sampling of smooth melted goodness.
“At C&C, our goal is to push the bounds of chocolate and utilize it as a medium for global flavors,” Annie told us. “One of our favorite parts of chocolatiering is coming up with new flavors by being inspired by different cultures and foods from around the world.”
Customizable Gift Boxes Are Perfect for Chocolate Lovers
Cacao & Cardamom stands out because it allows customers to use their imaginations and customize their chocolate boxes to include all the flavors they enjoy most. Individuals can pick their top five pieces, or they can indulge themselves in an 80-piece chocolate box.
Each box opens in a unique way, and some have multiple levels that fold outward or slide to reveal the colorful chocolates inside. Opening a Cacao & Cardamom box is meant to give customers a feeling of surprise and intrigue — and you won’t find any cliche heart-shaped boxes here!
“It definitely gets the ‘wow’ reaction when they open the box,” a reviewer named Jamie M. said about the gift box. “The chocolates are beautiful and look like jewels and the flavors are unique and like no other.”
“If you need a special gift for your best lady, I urge you to head over to C&C,” said Aaron in a Yelp review. “I have had cardamom before, but the combination of chocolate and cardamom — amazing.”
Jo Ann W. praised Cacao & Cardamom for creating chocolates that are both beautiful and delicious. “The designs are incredible, the variety of unique flavors, and the box presentations make the best gifts,” she said.
Whether you pick out a gift basket or customize a box of chocolate, you really can’t go wrong by picking something off the shelf at Cacao & Cardamom. This delightful chocolate store has a wide array of treats to satisfy any cravings and impress anyone with a sweet tooth.
The Female-Owned Company Takes Dessert to a New Level
Annie Rupani comes from a South Asian background, so spices like cardamom, cumin, and coriander remind her of home. She developed a passion for the culinary arts while studying abroad in London and Amman, and soon her hobby took on a life of its own.
While studying for her law school admissions exam, Annie would destress by experimenting with chocolate in the kitchen. She read books about chocolatiering and bought herself a mini-tempering machine to help with her messy and delicious projects.
After taking her exam, Annie continued her international travels. She spent six months in Pakistan with her family, and that’s when she decided to mix things up by pursuing a career in chocolate. So she headed off to take a chocolatiering class at a pastry school in Malaysia.
In July 2014, she went home to Houston to open a chocolate shop at the Centre at Post Oak.
Now Cacao & Cardamom has distinguished itself as a premier chocolatier with confections and bon bons that can make any date night, social outing, or celebration a little sweeter.
“We focus on getting the job done together, as a work family,” Annie told us. “Our goal is to maintain a growth mindset by being malleable to changes in the business and what customers want, and maintaining a fun, positive work environment.”
Looking to grow, the Cacao & Cardamom team is currently working on expanding its line of vegan chocolates while developing CBD-infused chocolates to really give customers a treat they can’t find anywhere else. Annie said she is also in the process of opening a couple new chocolate stores in other locations.
A Cacao & Cardamom Box of Chocolates is Sure to Impress
Cacao & Cardamom has become a beloved institution in Houston because its chocolate creations are stunning, imaginative, and, most importantly, melts-in-your-mouth delicious. Anyone with a sweet tooth is going to go into sensory overload while browsing the shop or website.
From create-your-own gift boxes to customized chocolate sculptures, Cacao & Cardamom wows customers with its artistry, skill, and friendly service. Its confections can be the cherry on top of a Houston date night, or they can be a show-stopping gift to celebrate a special anniversary, birthday, or holiday. Just make sure you get enough to share!
“I was speechless after eating them,” Rachel H. said in a review. “With every bite, a full body tingle. Cardamom Rose was unbelievable. And the truffles!”