Indulge in raw, vegan and gluten-free desserts at this Mumbai eatery

Triple Chocolate Ganache Cake Ginger Lime Cheesecake Matcha Green Tea Cake and Mandarin Dark Chocolate ParfaitMeet the Medjool date This is no ordinary dry fruit It is filled with the earthy flavours of truffle nutty warmth from peanuts and just a hint of sea salt It is like a candy bar but healthier tastier and more filling This date can be savoured in the Sea Salt Peanut Truffle Dates Rs 690 for six which is part of a new dessert menu launched recently by the healthy snack and dessert brand AmaiThe menu is raw vegan gluten and dairyfree and doesnt include preservatives In other words its a menu for guiltfree indulgenceSea Salt Peanut Truffle DatesJapanese inspirationAmai Japanese sweet was started by Aishwarya Nair Mathew inset in 2010 Inspired by the principles of Japanese macrobiotics it offers nutritious snacks and now raw desserts I aim to showcase the best of healthy food prepared and eaten in its natural state Wellness and combating foodrelated illness is the main reason behind this menu The idea for eating raw is that heating food destroys its nutrients and natural enzymes which is unhealthy because enzymes boost digestion and fight chronic disease says Mathew also the corporate food and wine consultant for The Leela group of hotelsThe depth of flavour in natural ingredients is more enhanced than what is in conventionally prepared foods The idea is to feel satiated light and energetic after consuming these decadent desserts without feeling like youre eating healthy or raw or vegan says Mathew We feel like that when munching on the chocolate covered dates They are wholesome and delicious At first bite we get the hit of gooey peanut butter which balances the sweetness of the dates with chocolates adding a crunchy sweet aftertasteChocolate is the star in our next two dessert tastings The Triple Chocolate Ganache Cake Rs 590 for two is layered Organic almonds cashews and apricots make up the granola barlike base providing crunch and sweetness to the creamy chocolate ganache Here coconut oil adds a different intensity to the dessert which after a few bites does overwhelm the palate We like it but it might be a putoff for those who arent fans of coconutMandarin Dark Chocolate Parfait Rs 550 for two has a similar texture and base almonds and dates but with stronger notes of citrus We wouldve liked segments of fruit for a different textural element to the otherwise onedimensional dessertSweet treatsMathew has used milk made from nuts such as cashew almond and Brazil nut to provide the best nondairy forms of milk This nut milk stars in the Ginger Lime Cheesecake Rs 590 for two a custardlike dessert with overwhelming flavours of ginger and citrus It is the sweetest dessert of the lot owing to the use of maple syrup But we do miss the buttery biscuit base of the traditional cheesecakeThe Matcha Green Tea Cake Rs 590 for two is light and airy as promised but we are let down by the powdery matcha flavour that coats the mouth and stays on our palate for longThe idea of raw desserts is appealing especially when you can indulge in them without worrying about consuming harmful ingredients But given the steep price we are not sure if going raw would make for an affordable lifestyle addition