Vegan First Exclusive: Bangalore to get a new plant-based patisserie this March!

March 11th, 2023

For dessert enthusiasts and vegans in Bengaluru, it’s time to rejoice! The city is all set to see the launch of a new 100% plant-based patisserie on March 19. Crave By Leena, a popular online vegan bakery that has been winning hearts since 2019, will finally open doors to its brick-and-mortar patisserie in the Koramangla area. 

The patisserie has been set up in a 7000-square feet space with two floors and a 16-18 seat capacity. “The vibe and ambience are very casual chic with black & white Moroccan tile flooring. The pristine white walls feature a colourful artwork of a woman eating a cupcake with a little lamb on her head. It has been done in pastel shades by a wonderful artist,” says Leena Mathai, founder of Crave By Leena.

Source: Crave By Leena

WHAT'S NEW ON THE MENU?
Crave By Leena’s online store has been known for its delicious vegan cakes, cupcakes, macarons, donuts and baked savouries over the years. The new patisserie will have around 200 items, which will include all of their usual favourites, along with some new additions — such as tarts, pastries and a few new macaron flavours. So, what are the most exciting new items on the menu? “Look out for the Hazelnut Chocolate Truffle Pastry & the Pineapple Pastry made with fresh compote,” answers Leena, who got her professional baking training in Australia. She also shares that their website offers over 2000 varieties of theme cakes!

On what sets her desserts apart, Leena says, “We use various combinations of coconut cream, cashew milk and almond milk to make the cakes very moist. So our customers don't order a cake just because it has no egg in it. They order it because it tastes better than a regular cake with a great finish. So that's what we focus on. We have done a couple of years of R&D for all of this.”

Source: Crave By Leena

EVOLVING CONSUMER BASE

When Crave By Leena’s online bakery was first launched five years ago, they had started with a handful of vegan customers and their business grew through word of mouth. Today, around 75% of her customers are non-vegans. “I have seen a huge shift in people’s mindsets over the years. Today, more and more people are open to trying healthier, more ethical choices as long as the food tastes good and looks appetising. Plus, many people are trying to follow a vegan diet once or twice a week,” shares Leena.

She further adds, “The delivery model worked really well for us, especially during the pandemic, when people could not go out. That’s when many Bangaloreans tried our cakes and became loyal customers. Also, the fact that we offer niche products like gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and custom cakes besides vegan and eggless makes a difference.” Apart from B2C, Crave By Leena also caters to restaurants, international schools and corporate events in Bangalore. She was awarded the first runner-up in Peta's 2014 Great Vegan Desserts Challenge.

Address: 6, 80 Feet Road, Koramangla 4th Block (above Airtel Store, Maharaja Signal), Bangalore

Contact: 9900178678