Does anyone know where you can buy a good quality pure cacao tablet, Batangas or better, anywhere in Sydney? I’m not desperate yet but I would love to have my cup of hot chocolate more frequently than my limited supply allows. I live near Hornsby but will travel anywhere to find my treasure… Thanks for any help.

My family used to sell pure tablea from cacao beans when I was a young elementary pupil back in Leyte. The secret to a smooth, frothy chocolate is in the way it is roasted and ground and of course the quality of the raw beans. It should be slow-roasted on coal fire using an earthen pot (palayok). Then afterwards, finely ground using a table mill after shelling it. We prefer table mills than the electric ones because they are finer and can be calibrated at any time, even while grinding.

To make a cup of smooth, frothy chocolate, you heat 2-4 pcs of tableas along with a cup of water on a chocolate pot. Just as it reach its boiling point, whisk it with the batirol until it is frothy. Let it simmer afterwards for about a minute but be careful not to let it overflow. Traditional hot chocolates are served on small ceramic cups along with suman, puto maya or churros c”,).

My daughter went home April/May this year and one of my bilins was tablea. As no one else from back home is as particular as me, I just told them to get Antonio Puey from the groceries. Instructed her to handcarry any food items and declare. If they say can’t bring in, leave it.

She followed my instructions; am enjoying my chokolate eh…just declare foodstuff and make sure there are no ‘seed’ foods.