The Hills Have a Real Chocolate Connection
BOHOL -The cleverness of a Bohol chocolate souvenir is that it does not have to rely solely on the shape of the Chocolate Hills. Bohol Chocolate Farm has been working with cacao growers and developing products from locally sourced beans, while its tourism activities connect visitors with the production process. A PIA report published earlier in 2026 described the farm’s cacao work, including chocolate bars, cacao tea, chocolate snacks, cacao vinegar, and other cacao-based products, as well as hands-on chocolate-making experiences. For a traveler, that makes a chocolate purchase more interesting because there is an agricultural story behind it.
Tablea Makes the Souvenir More Local
Another option is tablea, the traditional cacao product used to prepare sikwate and other chocolate drinks. Atbang Fine Chocolate, for example, lists fermented cacao tablea made from Bohol-grown cacao, along with cacao tisane and instant mixes featuring tablea and other ingredients. These products can appeal to travelers who want something less predictable than a conventional chocolate bar, especially if they enjoy preparing Filipino-style hot chocolate at home. The compact packaging also makes tablea convenient for travelers who are trying to keep their luggage manageable.
A Souvenir Connected to Farming
The cacao story becomes even more compelling when viewed from the farmers’ side. In July, Bohol was reported to be targeting one million cacao trees over a 10-year period through a public-private partnership, with the project involving community-based cacao farming and livelihood opportunities. That does not mean every chocolate product purchased by a tourist directly comes from that particular program, but it shows why cacao has become more than a decorative tourism theme in the province. Buying properly labeled Bohol-made cacao products can therefore be a delicious way to explore another side of the island’s agricultural identity.
