Katya and Armin, the couple behind Karuna, operate from the heart of the Italian Alps, but their journey with chocolate began in a very different place: southern India (an inspiration evoked in the beautiful shapes on their bars and packaging). There, they were introduced to locals growing and producing cocoa, which sparked their curiosity. They soon learned about hobbyists in America making single-origin chocolates by hand, a concept that reminded them of how the craft beer renaissance was driven by homebrewers, which had inspired so much innovation and creativity. Excited by the prospect of a new hobby, Katya and Armin began making chocolate using basic tools. Upon returning to Italy, they found only a few artisan manufacturers in Europe making the kind of chocolate they desired. Undeterred, they decided to follow in the footsteps of the homebrewers and create the chocolate they wanted themselves. Thus, Karuna Chocolate was born.