Davao cocoa breaks into world market

Missouri-based Askinosie Chocolate factory launched last Jan. 30 Philippine cacao made into chocolate bars as part of the sought-after Askinosie chocolate lines. The launch of the Davao, Philippines 77 percent chocolate bar was attended by Philippine Consul Blesila Cabrera and Trade Representative Glenn Penaranda in Springfield.

Shawn Askinosie, founder of Askinosie Chocolate in Missouri in 1998, has been sourcing his cacao from farmers in Latin America, namely Mexico, Venezuela and Ecuador when he became interested in exploring Philippine cacao, particularly from Davao.

This criminal defense lawyer (an avid baker of cupcakes) turned chocolate maker displays the photos of farmers and the history of the cacao beans on the labels of his chocolate bars.

His plant, which recently transferred to Commercial Street in Springfield, produces 77 percent chocolate from the beans for sipping (drinks), baking, tasting (chocolate bars) and treating (cooking).

The first cacao brought to Asia in the 1600s was grown in the Philippines and Askinsie Chocolate is the first to export Filipino cocoa beans in 25 years. This is the first chocolate bar to be exported from the Philippines, said Josephine Ramos, president of the Cacao Foundation of the Philippines.

Ramos said Askinosie Chocolate is the first maker in the world to export the historic cocoa beans since the mid-1980s “with accorded identity. We are excited about Askinosie’s work with farmers so that people around the world can share the taste of what our beans can produce.”

Made from lush, tropical, shade-grown, chemical free, Trinitario beans, the Davao bar is the chocolatiest-tasting bar from Askinosie yet, she added.

Ari Weinzweig, founder of the world famous Zingerman’s Deli, says of the 77-percent bar: “Dark and deep with a touch of toastiness. It is dry like a full-bodied well-aged red wine. This bar is compelling in its own East Asian way.” After working for over a year and a half to source these Filipino beans, the work has definitely paid off.”

Askinosie Chocolate is a producer of small batch chocolates located in Springfield, Missouri, sourcing 100 percent of their beans directly from the farmers.

Shawn Askinosie, frequent guest on Fox Business Network, travels to regions of Mexico, Ecuador and the Philippines to work directly with the farmers and source cocoa beans for his chocolate.

This allows the chocolate to be traced to the source and labeled Authentic Single Origin Chocolate. He shares profits with the farmers. His mission is to serve their farmers, their neighborhood, their customers and each other.