Not only does Rakhat manufacture delicious chocolate and confectionary but it is also a genuine Kazakhstani business success story. The company first started making chocolate in 1942 and now employs some 3,500 people across the country. The Almaty facility close to the Green Bazaar is home to two factory shops offering Rakhat’s full range of treats (the second is at Zhenkov and Makataev). The Kazakhstan-branded range is particularly popular and available in various gift sets and there’s also an Astana range complete with images of the Baiterek Tower plus products representing other cities and sights. Individual candies with names such as ‘Fairy Tale’, ‘Romeo’ and ‘Pushkin’ are sold by weight, but labels are in Russian so prepare for a Willy Wonka-style taste adventure!