{"id":11144,"date":"2019-04-19T09:56:08","date_gmt":"2019-04-19T01:56:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/?p=11144"},"modified":"2019-06-21T10:36:06","modified_gmt":"2019-06-21T02:36:06","slug":"dalareich-chocolate-house-in-tagbilaran-city-is-bohols-first-chocolate-factory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/2019\/04\/19\/dalareich-chocolate-house-in-tagbilaran-city-is-bohols-first-chocolate-factory\/","title":{"rendered":"Dalareich Chocolate House in Tagbilaran City is Bohol’s First Chocolate Factory"},"content":{"rendered":"

What if we tell you that the chocolate we are so used to eating – isn’t actually\u00a0made with pure chocolate?<\/span><\/p>\n

In Bohol, we met Dalareich Polot, the proprietor of Bohol’s Dalareich Chocolate House<\/strong>\u00a0in Tagbilaran City\u00a0<\/strong>who also manages a tableya<\/em> (cacao) business with her family. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Dalareich Chocolate House in Tagbilaran City\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

It was\u00a0Dalareich’s grandmother that started their <\/span>tableya<\/span><\/i> and<\/span> sikwate<\/span><\/i> (a native hot chocolate drink) business where they would sell their products in wet markets and sari-sari stores. The business was then passed on to Dalareich’s mother who then taught\u00a0her and her siblings everything about cacao – from its sourcing, processing, and selling. <\/span><\/p>\n

It was this small business that helped Dalareich and her siblings finish schooling. Since then,\u00a0her love for chocolate has flourished and her dream to make chocolate grew fonder.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Ms. Dalareich Polot<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

In 2014, Dalareich was able to make her chocolate-making dreams come true when she was accepted to study the craft in Belgium. This was an all-expense-paid two-month course that paved the part for Dalareich’s<\/span> tableya<\/span><\/i> business.<\/span><\/p>\n

During her immersion in Belgium, she learned that most of the chocolates sold commercially aren’t made with pure chocolate as they are added with artificial flavors.\u00a0This then prompted her <\/span>to educate people about chocolate and chocolate-making. <\/span><\/p>\n

As part of her mission to educate, she initiated projects to rehabilitate cacao farms so that farmers would know the true worth of cacao.\u00a0She also started the \u201cAdopt a Tree\u201d project to rehabilitate and preserve Bohol\u2019s cacao heritage.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Tableya<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

She also launched “Ginto Chocolates” in her province, a fair trade product using beans grown by local farmers. Dalareich chose to name her chocolate \u201cGinto,\u201d as a reference to the\u00a0past when cacao was used as a form of currency.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Dalareich holds tours to her factory and to the local farms. This allows tourists to immerse themselves in a whole day experience to discover chocolate like\u00a0never before. These tours are available for booking through the Dalareich Chocolate House website. She also holds workshops at their Chocolate House, a part of Dalareich’s advocacy to reeducate the locals as well as tourists, about chocolate.<\/span><\/p>\n

When you visit their Chocolate House in Tagbilaran City, you will be greeted with a cup of hot chocolate that they give out for free to everyone who visits the shop.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"The Sikwate, traditional Hot Chocolate made from Tableya<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

You will also be able to find and purchase tableya which comes in their original packaging available in 250, 500, and 1000 grams. The standard packaged Tableya will cost around <\/span>P25 to P75<\/b>, while those in bigger packages cost about <\/span>P175 to P700<\/b>. <\/span><\/p>\n

While Dalareich’s Chocolate House is yet to be included in tours, a visit to her shop is worth the journey!<\/span><\/p>\n

How to get here:<\/b><\/p>\n