Cacao Tablea

Tablea in the Philippines is defined as roasted, ground, and molded nibs of fermented pure (100%) cacao
beans with no added ingredients or additives. It is also a cocoa mass and cocoa liquor made from
fermented, dried, roasted, ground cacao beans that are then molded into blocks, balls, discs, or tablets.
(Department of Trade and Industry and Board of Investments, 2014-2016)

Raw cacao is high in antioxidants known as flavanols. Eating foods high in flavanols has numerous health
benefits for your body, including heart protection, improved digestive health, reduced stress, improved
cognitive function, and a lower risk of diabetes. Magnesium, iron, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus
are all found in raw cacao. (Arefa Cassoobhoy, MD, MPH, August 19, 2020)

The cacao is a tropical plant native to the Americas' equatorial areas but now produced in many nations
with warm, tropical climates. The top five cocoa-producing countries are Cote D'Ivoire, Ghana,
Indonesia, Nigeria and Cameroon while the Philippines was rank 24 with 7,009 cocoa production in
2020. ( Jason Shvili, September 24, 2020)

According to Roni Matalog, 2020 Cacao was brought to the Philippines by Spanish invaders four
centuries ago. Because of its tropical rainforest climate, Philippine has become an identical cacao
cultivation ground.

According to the Philippines Statistic Authority, the current primary cacao production locations in the
country are Batangas, Cebu, and Davao, with Davao dubbed "The Cacao Capital of the Philippines"
accounting for 81 percent of annual production.

The Department of Agriculture has handed over a 2 million cacao processing facility to the Binanuahan
Farmers Community Development Association (BFCDA) in Pili, Camarines Sur, as part of its High Value
Crops Development Program (HVCDP). They are currently processing 40 kilos of cacao beans into various
food products such as tablea de cacao, tablea candy, tablea in muscovado, chocolabat, choco-meric
(chocolate-turmeric) ice cream, and empanaditas de cacao. (Connie Calipay, Philippine News
Agency,April 12, 2018)

The UPLB scientists, led by Dr. Jessica Simbahan, investigated cacao fermentation practices in various
parts of the country before developing a formula for a better-textured and more delicious tablea
chocolate product that Filipino cacao processors and tablea chocolate manufacturers could use. The
study, funded by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and
Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), developed a mixture of carefully
chosen yeasts, lactic acid bacteria, and other beneficial fungi isolated from local cacao fermentation.

Tablea is available in the local supermarket and can also be ordered online from someone who makes
Tablea from well-fermented and -dried cacao that they have grown themselves. Davao City, on the
island of Mindanao, is well-known for producing a large portion of the country's cacao that there are
over a dozen tablea brands. (Max, Dame Caco March 20, 2021)

Cacao tablea can be made a Filipino hot chocolate. It is served plain. There are no whipped cream,
marshmallows, or sugary syrups to hide behind. It is the chocolate purist's dream, made with only milk
and tablea or cocoa tablets. (Jolina, January 9, 2019)

Cacao Tablea can turn into another dish, or pair it with other dishes. Tablea Tsokolate, similar to Churros
y Xocolat in Spain, is typically served with pandesal (Filipino bread roll) during breakfast. It also goes well
with desserts because the dark bitter taste of cacao balances out the sweetness. Tsokolate can be
topped with a variety of ingredients, including the following:Pinipig, also known as rice puffs, Cinnamon,
Vanilla, Ice Cream, and Liquor (rum or tequila) (Raymond Cua, July 19, 2020)

Tablea chocolate is more rustically prepared, therefore it's best utilized in recipes that call for it to be
cooked, melted, and blended into a batter. Tablea sauce, brownies, tarts, meringue cake, cupcakes, and
kakanin like champorado and biko are just a few of the delightful treats that can be prepared. (Roselle
Miranda, September 1, 2019)

Department of Trade and Industry and Board of Investments

http://industry.gov.ph/industry/cacao-tablea/ 2014-2016

Arefa Cassoobhoy, MD, MPH

https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-cacao August 19, 2020

Jason Shvili

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/top-10-cocoa-producing-countries.html September 24, 2020

Roni Matalog

https://www.humblemarket.ph/the-ultimate-guide-to-raw-cacao-and-its-products-powder-tablea-and-
nibs/ November 3, 2020

Connie Calipay

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1031777 April 12, 2018

Max

https://damecacao.com/tablea-tableya-sikwate/ March 20, 2021

Rannier Alan Ronda

https://www.philstar.com/business/agriculture/2015/11/14/1521883/uplb-scientists-concoct-better-
tablea-chocolate November 14, 2015

Jolina

https://theunlikelybaker.com/tsokolate-filipino-hot-chocolate/ January 9, 2019

Raymond Cua

https://travellingfoodie.net/chocolate-oatmeal/ July 19, 2020

Roselle Miranda

https://www.yummy.ph/lessons/baking/difference-between-tablea-vs-chocolate-a00249-20190901-
lfrm September 1, 2019