India's toffee exports have climbed 166 per cent over 12 years, reaching Rs 132 crore in 2025-26. (Photo: Ai creation by Angshuman Maity) I wasn’t a fan of Melody; in fact, I barely remembered it till it became the greatest diplomatic gift from India, since the Kohinoor diamond. While growing up, toffees were the easiest – and cheapest – treat which our parents used to send with us to school, to share with our classmates. At that time, parents were not paranoid about their children eating sugar, and it was commonplace to munch on or suck on a toffee a day. Why were toffees so popular in India, especially around the time Parle launched Melody toffees? Because, unlike today, chocolates weren’t as easily available. Melody cost just Rs 1 and had a soft caramel exterior, a liquid chocolate centre, and, in a marvel of engineering, the chocolate interior was visible through the translucent candy. Not being contrarian, but Melody Toffees never made it to my list of favourite toffees in India.…