Cacao’s local flavor
Europe is well-known for creating some of the world’s best gourmet chocolates like Valrhona, Godiva Chocolatier, La Maison du Chocolat and Toblerone. Interestingly, though well-placed on the list of best chocolatiers and artisans, the continent does not l
A chocolate business is more feasible in the Philippines because cacao beans and sugar are readily available. In fact, these are Pinoy products that we proudly export internationally. Philo Chua saw this as a great opportunity, hence the founding of Theo & Philo.
The social enterprise retails locallysourced chocolate bars with distinct Filipino fl avors. Straight from Davao, the meticulous bean- to- bar process begins with roasting whole cacao beans to extract the flavor, then skinning and grinding them into a paste called cocoa mass. The next step is to add other ingredients, such as sugar from Bacolod, to achieve the desired uniquely Filipino fl avor. The last step includes tempering and molding of the cocoa mass into chocolate bars—all steps are meticulously overseen workers.
“The main ingredients that go into a good chocolate are basically just cacao beans and sugar— both of which are readily available here. All it needs is for someone to craft it to the highest quality. I decided to be that person, I went home from overseas and the rest is what you see now,” Philo shared on Theo & Philo’s official website.
Founded in 2010, Theo & Philo turns the local flavors of the Philippines into artisanal gourmet chocolate bars that are of highest quality and truly world-class. As a social enterprise, in partnership with Gawad Kalinga, it aspires to make a sustainable local bean-to-bar business while carrying the proudly Filipino flavors.
Best- sellers 70% Dark Chocolate, Labuyo (has a spicy kick), and Barako (contains organic barako coffee) gave a twist on how we enjoy chocolate. Other favorites are the classic Milk Chocolate, Green Mango & Salt, Pili & Pinipig, Calamansi, Adobo, Turon, and Ginger Mint — each reflecting Filipino culture through fl avors patterned after some of the country’s best delicacies. Theo & Philo also comes in gift boxes of three and fi ve. Theo & Philo is available at the following stores: ECHO Store, Manos Nail Lounge, Ritual - The Collective, Team Manila Store - Rockwell Power Plant Mall; TriNoma; SM Mall of Asia, Bo’s Coffee branches, Gourdo’s branches - TriNoma; Alabang Town Center; Greenhills Promenade; The Fort, Wellworth Department Store - Fairview Terraces Mall, Sofitel Hotel Le Boutique Gift Shop, Urban Pantry - Greenhills Promenade, Human Nature ( Head office; Manila; Pasig; UP Village; Cainta; San Pablo, Laguna; Mandaue; Davao), Connie’s Kitchen, The Market - Salcedo Village, Mabuhay Restop, Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm, Cafe+ - Plaridel, Bulacan.