March 29, 2024

The Department of Trade and Industry said the recent victory of Malagos Chocolate at the World Drinking Chocolate Competition 2020 in Hannover, Germany showcases the excellence of the Philippine cacao. The results were announced last Oct. 25 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 Directly Traded.  

The Gold Growing Country award is given to a chocolate completely produced and packaged in a recognized cacao-growing country. This chocolate should have also qualified in the Grand Jury round and at least 10 products from the country should have entered this category.   

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 while 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 a direct contact with the grower.  

DTI Sec. Ramon M. Lopez congratulated the Davao-based company, particularly Puentespina family, and thanked them for their support to the Philippine cacao.  

Malagos Chocolate’s victory in the Special Awards Category affirmed the Filipino company’s championing of the Philippine cacao.  

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 B. Rivera.  

Lopez praised Malagos for their victory and reiterated DTI’s commitment to promote Philippine culinary heritage across the globe.  

“We are dedicated in 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,” Lopez said. – DTI release