This festive season, there is an extra excuse to dig into some dark chocolates.

The reason? Locally made sweet treats.

Patna youths Kritunjay Tiwari, 30, and Deepak Upadhyay, 28, will inaugurate their factory that would make dark chocolates under the brand name SHAREeat in Bihta on September 17.

For the chocolate factory, the youths have taken a Rs 25-lakh loan sanctioned under the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP).

The duo have invested Rs 5 lakh from their side for the factory.

On what prompted them to open a factory to make dark chocolate, Tiwari said: 'The market for chocolate is huge here. What we have noticed is that a good number of big companies and even local pastry shops are selling compound chocolate that is basically a combination of cocoa, vegetable fat and sweetener. It is a low-cost alternative to true chocolate.'

'With our venture we are focusing on providing true chocolate which will contain around 50 to 70 per cent cocoa and it would be rich in flavour,' said Tiwari, who left a job in sales and marketing to start the plant with Upadhyay.

He added that the chocolate treats they will offer the residents will be free of harmful trans fats. More reasons for chocolate connoisseurs to enjoy the cocoa treats.

'We are sourcing cocoa beans from Kerala. We have fixed a target of making at least 50kg chocolate per day,' he said.

Kritunjay said apart from bitter dark chocolate, his factory would also make other products like chocolate powder, milk chocolate and white chocolate.

The duo have researched and learnt the traits of chocolate making before starting the venture.

'I visited the factory of Cocoacraft in Kerala last year to learn the process. Right from sourcing cocoa from selected growers to its fermentation, I learnt everything during my month's stay in Kerala last year,' he said.

The duo also have plans to bring their factory-made chocolate to the shelves of the local shops in the next two months.

'I am also planning to open my own shop adjacent the factory in Bihta where people can taste chocolate-based innovated products,' added Tiwari.