The Real Cacao Talk

Ever wondered how chocolates came to be? Have you enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate in a cold winter's eve? Or maybe you have tried eating "suman" with "tsokolate". Anyhow, here's a quick wiki on how our beloved "tsokolate" is made and where it is from.

The ripe cacao pod and the sun-dried seeds.

My friend from AHoN(Ana Kalang's Hikers of Nature) Kuya Fred was more than generous to tell me the steps in making "tabliya", the native chocolate balls used in cooking champorado or making hot choco, usually prepared with sugar. Cacao or coco bean is the main ingredient in making "tabliya" or "tsokolate". The fruit of the tree looks like a pod of seeds. Its seeds look like those in the santol fruit. It tastes sweet and tasty too.

After letting the pods sit in a basket for 5 days, they will be ready for consumption. The seeds are then sun-dried until they are really really dehydrated or dry.

These are the seeds for grinding.

The outer covering or thin shell is then removed leaving the seeds for roasting. Once the seeds are roasted, they will be ready for grinding. They smell really good so you'll know when they are ready. 

"Kuya Fred's Tabliya Balls"

Boiling "tsokolate" concentrate.

The common shape of "tabliya" is round but the shape is really up to you. You can use molds for the shapes you want. You can also add some sugar during the shaping so it's kinda sweet if you want to eat it. I personally love eating "sweetened tabliya". After shaping, they need to be refrigerated so they don't melt.

Kuya Fred during his Cacao Talk for the Students of SNEA with Lakbay Kalikasan.

Making "Tabliya" requires dedication and hard work. Thanks to Kuya Fred who showed me the stages and steps in making "Tabliya Choco". Now we all know where to find "tabliya" in Nagcarlan. All we need to do is drop by to Kuya Fred and he'll be more than happy to let us enjoy his "tabliya".

Travel Guide:

You can reach Nagcarlan's Brgy. Banilad from San Pablo City, Laguna. It is a left turn after passing the ark boundary of Nagcarlan and Rizal. 

From Manila:
                Bus Ride to San Pablo via Lucena City bound buses.
                Land Mark is SPC Medical Center
                Fare P127

                Jeepney ride From SPC Medical Center to City Proper of San Pablo
                Fare P8

                Jeepney ride from San Pablo City to Nagcarlan
                Terminal is near the San Pablo Cathedral.
                Fare P25(fare is cheaper if you're bound to Brgy. Banilad)

Thanks to my Editor: Ms. Janica Mae Regalo :)