Taking a sip of the pure hot chocolate might surprise the uninitiated, who might be expecting a sweet flavor.Chocolates are an indulgence almost no one can refuse. While chocolate was never a native product of the Philippines, as it was brought over from Mexico by Spanish colonizers, a steady chocolate industry has since grown on our native soil.
Venturing out to the outskirts of Maribojoc in Bohol, Lasang Farm is one of the province’s popular agritourism spots. Started by entrepreneurs Ernesto and Nene Macabenta, the farm prides itself on teaching tourists how to make traditional tablea from cacao. According to Ernesto, the 3.2-hectare farm is home to over 1,500 cacao trees. Getting to the farm entailed a short hike, but a small feast of chocolatecovered mangoes, hot chocolate, and budbud made the trail worth it.
Taking a sip of the pure hot chocolate might surprise the uninitiated, who might be expecting a sweet flavor. In reality, pure hot chocolate has a stronger taste, sweetened only if mixed with a tablespoon of honey or sugar. Although the taste might not be for all, many enjoy it for its health benefits, which include lowering the risk of diabetes and heart disease, lowering blood pressure, and improving the mood and brain functions due to the flavonoids and antioxidants present in cacao.
As lengthy and laborious as the process sounds, the result makes it worth it. Plus, there’s the added sense of accomplishment that just sweetens the experience.