“The Land of Chocolate”
On July 15, one of Cebu’s pioneering resorts launched a new experiential-themed highlight that draws focus on traditional chocolate production and preparation.
Dubbed “The Land of Chocolate,” the new highlight in Shangri-la’s Mactan Resort & Spa enjoins Cebuanos and visitors to Cebu to take part in guided immersions on the intricacies entailed in the making of “sikwate” (hot chocolate), as well as learn about traditional chocolate-making processes and Cebu’s generations-spanning affinity with cacao.
Conceptualized by general manager René Egle, the initiative took two years in the making, and was made possible with the invaluable inputs of Raquel Choa of Cebu’s homegrown brand, The Chocolate Chamber.
As Egle describes it, what was then a supplier’s meeting between him and Choa became the cornerstone for the initiative – its guided immersion aspect, the introduction of the resort’s chocolate sommeliers trained by Choa, the introduction of Cebuano meriendas (snacks) prepared with locally-sourced chocolate at the resort’s Lobby Lounge and more.
Guests and attendees to the launch took part in a walkthrough of the resort’s “Cacao Garden,” which is a young cacao farm where the resort’s chocolate sommeliers demonstrate how “sikwate” and chocolate is prepared traditionally.
Chocolate sommeliers Sheena Acedo and Amelyn Ba-at guided the event’s attendees through the immersion, which was capped by a “sikwate” tasting session that zeroedin on the flavorful tangs of freshly-made hot drink.
Egle also announced that the resort has recently partnered with the “Auro Chocolate” brand. An award-winning Metro Manila-headquartered brand that sources cacao from Davao, “Auro” is famed for infusing contemporary elements into is artisanal offerings.