The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the recent victory of Malagos Chocolate at the World Drinking Chocolate Competition 2020 in Hannover, Germany showcases the excellence of Philippine cacao. The results were announced recently during the virtual Schokoladen Gourmet Festival.
Malagos Chocolate claimed four Gold awards, especially the top prize in the Plain/ Origin Drinking Chocolate Dark category that bested entries from all over the world. They were also given three Golds in Special Awards categories: Growing Country, Chocolate Maker, and Direct Traded.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez congratulated the Davao-based company, particularly the Puentespina family, and thanked them for their support of the Philippine cacao.
“This is a validation of our nation’s never-ending quest for excellence in the field of cacao farming and chocolate-making.”
“This is a validation of our nation’s never-ending quest for excellence in the field of cacao farming and chocolate-making,” Lopez said.
Meanwhile, their victory in the Special Awards Category affirmed the Filipino company’s championing of the Philippine cacao.
Malagos won Gold in categories that emphasized the integrity of their products. For example, the Gold Growing Country award is given to chocolate completely produced and packaged in a recognized cacao-growing country. This chocolate should have also qualified in the Grand Jury round. Moreover, there should at least be 10 products from the country entered into this category.
Meanwhile, the Gold Chocolate Maker award is given to a product fully made from cacao beans into finished chocolate in the entering company’s own factory. The Gold Directly Traded is given to chocolate made from cacao with no middlemen involved, with as few steps as possible in chain, and where the chocolate maker has direct contact with the grower.
Rex Puentespina, managing director of Malagos Chocolate, said, “It goes to show that our chocolate is world-class and makes you proud to be a cacao grower.”
DTI has been working with Malagos Chocolates in their journey towards global recognition with the help of the trade agency’s Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC).
“We highlight our Philippine cacao in foreign countries as a high value product that matches the taste of chocolate lovers across the globe,” said FTSC Executive Director Anthony Rivera.
The trade chief praised Malagos for their victory and reiterated DTI’s commitment to promote Philippine culinary heritage across the globe.
“This would create more livelihood and employment opportunities for our local farmers.”
“We are dedicated to helping the local chocolate industry reach new heights and make a global imprint. This would create more livelihood and employment opportunities for our local farmers,” the trade head stressed.
“While this victory is dedicated to the hard-working Filipino farmer, we hope this award will also inspire our people to innovate and empower themselves so that they can create a better and more comfortable life for themselves despite these difficult times,” he added.