Davao chocolate maker wins award in Germany

MANILA, Philippines –  A premium chocolate produced in Davao bested entries from around the world to win the silver medal at the World Drinking Chocolate Competition held recently in Germany.

The silver for Malagos Chocolate’s single-origin 65 percent dark chocolate was announced last Oct. 9.

Judges picked in public view the winners of the International Chocolate Awards 2015 during the Schokolade Gourmet Festival held in Hannover, Germany from Sept. 11 to 13, based on samples prepared by the award body’s chefs using recipes submitted by the entrants.

It was the second award for Malagos Chocolates. Last April, its 100 percent unsweetened chocolate bagged the bronze award for Best Unflavored Drinking Chocolate during the 2015 Academy of Chocolate Awards in London.

The festival in Hannover was the first full World Drinking Chocolate Competition to be organized by the International Chocolate Awards following last year’s pilot.

Malagos single-origin chocolates are produced at the Puentespina Cacao Farm on the foothills of Mt. Talomo in Davao City, operated by Rex Puentespina and his mother Charita. 

The Malagos entry won in the dark drinking chocolate (made with milk) category, sharing the silver with three entries from the UK and one from Chile.  A US entry bagged the gold.

The International Chocolate Awards is an independent competition recognizing excellence in making fine chocolate. Those  behind the awards seek to support companies producing fine chocolate as well as chocolatiers, small companies and artisans working with fine chocolate. The awards also aim to support cacao farmers.