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Davao As Cacao Capital Of PH – Bohol As Chocolate Capital Of Asia!

If you want to settle the dispute between which province should be declared “Cacao Capital of the Philippines,” I say you are being short-sighted. The Genius Rule is: To solve a problem, change the problem! So, look at my title again: “Davao As Cacao Capital Of PH – Bohol As Chocolate Capital Of Asia!”

Given that, Davao can claim all the modern cacaocredits it wants – and Bohol can claim all the historical chocolate credits it has! For instance, where else in Asia can you find the Chocolate Hills except Bohol!? Ha, ha. The upper image[1] is from Garden Café Tagbilaran, Bohol; the lower image is captioned: “The province of Bohol has several cacao trees growing in the backyards of small farmers.” So, Chocolate Hills, cacao backyards: Beat that!

Patricia Bianca S Taculao says (03 July 2020, “Bohol’s Chocolate Princess Revives Heirloom Cacao Planted In Backyards[2],” Agriculture.com.ph):

The province of Bohol, located in the Central Visayas Region, is known for its natural wonder, which is also a favorite tourist destination: the Chocolate Hills. It got its name from the color of the hills during the summer (months), when the lush, green grass on them turns brown. Those who are unaware of this circumstance often ask, “Where is the chocolate?” not knowing that the answer can be found in the backyards of the locals.

Also because of the shape – chocolate drops.

Dalareich Polot is a chocolate maker based in the region. Ms Patricia says Ms Polot says:

Cacao is part of the culture of Bohol. With so much Spanish influence spread across Bohol, it has become the norm for Boholanos to have one to three cacao trees either in the back or front of their houses.

Spanish influence? The word “cocoa” is the Spanish “cacao;” the cacao tree is a native of Mexico[3] (Wikipedia); now you know how the cacao reached the Philippines – via the galleon trade.

Can you dispute history? Ms Polot believes there are more than 10,000 “historical cacao trees” in each town in Bohol. Most of these are of the variety “Criollo,” a word whose definition betrays its origin: “indigenous to or characteristic of a Spanish-American country[4]” (American Heritage Dictionary).

In 2014, Ms Polot enjoyed a scholarship in Ghent University in Belgium to study cacao and chocolate. She believed so much in the Criollo that in 2018 “she launched a program to revive cacao trees in Bohol to help small farmers earn an income from them.” She called the project, “Adopt a Cacao Tree and Preserve Bohol’s Cacao Heritage.”

Cacao Heritage. Ms Polot is Chair of the Bohol Cacao Council. She says, “I’m spearheading the activities of the cacao farmers and at the same time learning from them. We bought cacao from these small farmers and empowered them.”

Cocoa is a heritage act in Bohol. Ms Polot says, “My mom learned how to make tablea from my grandmother.”

“Tablea” is found neither in the English dictionary nor English Wikipedia. The origin must be Filipino. It must be Bohol!@517


[1]https://www.gardencafetagbilaran.com/bohol-tourist-attractions/

[2]https://www.agriculture.com.ph/2020/07/03/bohols-chocolate-princess-revives-heirloom-cacaos-planted-in-backyards/

[3]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocoa_bean

[4]https://www.thefreedictionary.com/criollo

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