Chocolatier wants Phl to be known as chocolate country

CEBU, Philippines - “It’s high time for the Philippines to be known as a chocolate country. We want to let the whole world know that Filipinos, especially Cebuanos, know how to make high-quality chocolates. And every Filipino has to be able to enjoy it.”

This according to Raquel Choa, the owner and founder of Ralfe Gourmet, a Cebu-based artisan chocolate boutique that focuses on creating quality chocolate from locally-sourced cacao beans.

The company also supplies tablea (flat discs of cocoa powder) to hotels not just in Cebu but elsewhere in the Philippines.

With her chocolate creations that are known for its richness and pureness, Choa expressed optimism that the Philippines will excel in chocolate making.

Choa, who is a cacao farmer herself, considers tablea making as her passion having been exposed to its since childhood. With her grandmother as trainor, Choa started making tablea when she was 7 years old.

“We want the Philippines to be known in the whole world as creator of quality chocolates. And Ralfe Gourmet will be one of the institutions to spread this hidden treasure,” she said.

Cacao which is the main ingredient for chocolates is largely undrerrated crop for its lack of supply in the Philippines. Hence, Choa made it her advocacy to educate and encourage farmers to plant more of this.

According to Ralfe Gourmet marketing and communications specialist Edu Pantino, a kilo of cacao beans costs P150 compared to the P80 per kilo five years ago. With such price appreciation, Pantino said there is a huge potential for cacao farming in the country.

Pantino also encouraged Filipinos to patronize local chocolate products that taste better than the imported ones since the former is made from 100% cacao beans.

“It is a matter of education and chocolate appreciation. We are elevating chocolate in its purest form. As a company highlighting chocolate creations, we saw the potential and the passion for excellence in tablea making. With Cebu pioneering the evolution of the cacao industry, we want it to be known as the home for the best chocolate,” he told The FREEMAN.

Apart from its advocacy to revive awareness on cacao farming, Pantino revealed that a 3-hectare area in Bohol is being considered by the company as expansion for its cacao farm in Balamban. The Bohol farm could be planted with a total of 3,000 seedlings.

Since one hectare could produce a ton of cacao beans, Pantino said the Bohol farm could ensure Ralfe Gourmet a steady supply of the raw material.

“If you look at a higher level of processing, everything starts with the beans. We plant the cacao ourselves and invest on time, put a lot of creativity and imagination to come out with high-quality chocolates,” Pantino said. (FREEMAN)