Elevating Philippine Cacao

Philippine chocolate used to play second fiddle to more established imported brands. Not anymore. One of the names at the forefront of this sweet discovery is Davao-based Malagos Chocolate. Unwrapping each bar or box of Malagos Chocolate opens a concoction of delicious taste matched with the proud realization that yes, Philippine chocolate can be just as good as, if not better than, imported chocolates.

Just as the process of making chocolates is no easy feat, the road to putting Philippine chocolates in the map also proved to be very challenging. And it started with the dream to elevate our local cacao. Malagos chocolate had to work with local farmers and international organizations to transform their beans into chocolates.

Not everyone wanted to dip their fingers into the local chocolate jar in the beginning. Malagos Chocolate had to literally knock on the doors of establishments to ask them to give their products a chance. 

“Philippine chocolates are just as good as, if not far better than, imported chocolates. Chocolate makers around the world recognize that the Philippines has its unique chocolates that are comparable to other cacao-growing countries,” Rex Puentespina, farmer and chocolate-maker at Malagos Chocolate, says.

Their belief in Philippine chocolates and their hard work finally paid off. In 2015, Malagos Chocolate won the silver prize at the prestigious International Chocolate Awards’ World Drinking Chocolate Competition. After years of joining bazaars, Malagos Chocolate finally found a retail partner in Kultura. Kultura introduced them to a wider audience of tourists and OFWs who are on the lookout for pasalubong items, and locals who want to try fine Filipino chocolate. Some of their best-sellers include the award-winning Malagos 65 percent Dark Chocolate, the Malagos 100% Pure Unsweetened Chocolate, and a fruit collection of mango, pineapple, guyabano and young coconut covered in chocolates. Its recognitions from local and international organizations also continue to grow.

“Kultura has been a big part of our success. It has been supporting Philippine chocolate makers like us. It is the obvious go-to choice of both tourists and Filipinos in search of quality products to bring home,” Rex says.

Malagos chocolates are available in all Kultura stores nationwide. You may also order Malagos chocolates and other uniquely Filipino products online through the following: https://bit.ly/KulturaDeliveryNCR for Metro Manila; https://bit.ly/KulturaDeliveryCebu; for Cebu City and https://bit.ly/KulturaDeliveryDavao for Davao City. 

Kultura is a specialty store of SM Retail that offers anything uniquely Filipino. Behind every product is a story of community, support and identity.