Tsokolate

Tsokolate (Tagalog: [tʃoko'late]), also spelled chocolate, is a native Filipino thick hot chocolate drink. It is made from tabliya or tablea, tablets of pure ground roasted cacao beans, dissolved in water and milk. Like in Spanish and Mexican versions of hot chocolate, the drink is traditionally made in a tsokolatera and briskly mixed with a wooden baton called the molinillo (also called batidor or batirol), causing the drink to be characteristically frothy. Tsokolate is typically sweetened with a bit of muscovado sugar, and has a distinctive grainy texture.[1][2]

Tsokolate

Tsokolate with sweat sake
Country of origin	Philippines
Flavor	Chocolate
Ingredients	Chocolate, milk or water, sugar
Variants	batirol
Related products	Hot chocolate

Tsokolate is commonly consumed at breakfast with traditional kakanin delicacies or pandesal and other types of traditional Filipino pastries. It is also popular during Christmas season in the Philippines, particularly among children.[2][3]

Names

Tsokolate is also known as suklati in Kapampangan; sikulate in Maguindanao; and sikwate or sikuwate in Visayan languages. All are derived from Spanish chocolate ("chocolate"), ultimately from Nahuatl xocolātl.[1]

Tabliya

Tabliya chocolate

Tabliya or tablea (from Spanish tablilla, "tablet") are small traditionally home-made tablets of pure ground roasted cacao beans. Tabliya is made by drying beans of ripe cacao fruit for two or three days. The dried beans are shelled and roasted. They are ground into a thick chocolate liquor paste that are then formed into the characteristic little discs or balls and allowed to dry.[4][5][6]

Aside from tsokolate, tabliya is used in a wide variety of other traditional desserts in the Philippines, most prominently in champorado, a glutinous rice porridge flavored with chocolate.[4][7]

Preparation

Tsokolate with suman rice cakes and ripe carabao mangoes

Tsokolate is traditionally prepared by boiling water and milk in a special high-necked pitcher-shaped pot known as a tsokolatera (also tsokolatehan, sikulatihan, sikwatehan, etc.). It is taken off from the flame once bubbles start to form and a few discs of tabliya are dropped into the liquid. Muscovado sugar and more milk or cream is also added, to taste. A special wooden baton called the molinillo (also called batidor or batirol) is then inserted through the top and briskly twirled using the palms of the hands to bring the liquid to a froth. It is then poured into individual cups.[8][9][10]

Modern methods of making tsokolate can include using regular whisks, blenders, or milk frothers to achieve the same frothy consistency. Additional ingredients like cinnamon, vanilla, pinipig rice flakes, or even rum or tequila can also be added. However, using commercial cocoa powder instead of tabliya is strongly frowned upon, as it does not give the same texture or taste.[3][8][10][2]

Cultural significance

Tsokolate is commonly consumed at breakfast with traditional kakanin or bread. Common pairings with tsokolate include pandesal, puto maya, puto bumbong, churros, ensaymada, buñuelos (or cascaron), suman, kesong puti, and bibingka. It is also popular during Christmas season in the Philippines, particularly among children.[2]

In the novel Noli Me Tangere (1887) by the Philippine national hero, José Rizal, the antagonist character Padre Salvi is depicted as calculatingly serving thick chocolate (espeso) for important guests, but serving watered-down chocolate (aguado) for guests he deemed unimportant. He surreptitiously signals his servant to prepare either by saying "chocolate, eh?" or "chocolate, ah?" - "eh" and "ah" actually being short for espeso and aguado. Following Rizal, the terms "Chocolate Eh" and "Chocolate Ah" have been adopted by some establishments.[11]

See also

• Kinutil
• Champorado
• Chocolate industry in the Philippines
• Kapeng barako
• List of chocolate drinks

References

1. Polistico, Edgie (2017). Philippine Food, Cooking, & Dining Dictionary. Anvil Publishing, Incorporated. ISBN 9786214200870.
2. Cabrera, Maryanne. "sokolate (Filipino Hot Chocolate)". The Little Epicurean. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
3. "Tsokolate". Kawaling Pinoy. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
4. "Home-based business idea: How to make 'tablea'". Entrepreneur Philippines. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
5. Sarmiento, Prime (14 October 2017). "Filipinos' love of chocolates helps to revive cacao industry". Nikkei Asian Review. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
6. Perez, Ace June Rell S. (4 October 2015). "Redefining the taste of tablea". SunStar Philippines. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
7. "Tablea Tsokolate or Cacao Chocolate". Batangas-Philippines.com. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
8. Juan, Pacita; Ramos, Josephine; Francisco, Maria Regina (2017). Cacao: Bean to Bar. Anvil Publishing, Incorporated. ISBN 9789712729157.
9. "Batidor, Batirol, Molinillo, Chocolatera, atbp". Market Manila. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
10. Garcia, Bianca. "How to Make Tsokolate (Filipino Hot Chocolate)… and a Giveaway!". Confessions of a Chocoholic. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
11. Santos-Taylor, L. Marcelline (2017). "Soul Comforts: Kapeng Barako and Tsokolate". In Maranan, Edgar; Maranan-Goldstein, Len (eds.). A Taste of Home: Pinoy Expats and Food Memories. Anvil Publishing, Incorporated. ISBN 9789712733031.