Cacao de Bola delights UN salon in New York

Raquel T. Choa demonstrates the process of making cacao de bola, her latest creation which can be used for almost anything and everything. INQUIRER/Carol Tanjutco.

NEW YORK CITY — Raquel Choa, the “Chocolate Queen of Cebu,” choked up as she recounted her childhood experiences, when she used to collect garbage at age 14 and eventually got married at age 16. Her daughter Hannah watched as the audience listened intently.

Introduced by Consul General Tess Dizon De Vega, it took a few minutes before she finally composed herself and proceeded to do what she knows best–demonstrating the making of cacao de bola, the way her grandmother taught her when was just seven years old.

A finished cacao de bola was grated and spread over hors d’oeuvres. INQUIRER/Carol Tanjutco

Choa passed around samples of her products including bitter, pure chocolate candies, a variety of delectable truffles and hot cacao tableau brewed on the spot.

Guests at La Salon du Chocolat in the UN Headquarters in New York nibble samples of Cacao de Bola. INQUIRER/Carol Tanjutco

The hors d’oeuvres served were all sprinkled with grated cacao de bola, to tickle the palates for something sweet and savory. It was an unexpected twist to cocktail food serving. At the end of the demonstration, cacao de bola was sold off the table at $75 a piece.

Raquel Choa founded The Chocolate Chamber chain of stores and cafés in Cebu. She has successfully elevated the homegrown cacao into decadent creations very much sought after by international clients.

“Legend says that Maria Cacao was the queen of the cacao forest. She lived in a palace-magical tree-that fireflies lit up in the darkest of night.  Maria Cacao would harvest the cacao, load them into her ship, travel through the river, then to the open seas and to foreign lands to distribute cacao,” Choa relates.

WATCH: Cacao de bola-making demonstration in New York

“As I recall her trails and enliven a rich chocolate tradition, this time, adding value to a precious ingredient, the Philippine cacao, ‘the pearl of the forest,’ I share our chocolate creations made from our humble tablea — my little way of telling the story of Maria Cacao and ensuring that her legend lives on,” Choa added.

She has rightfully earned the title “Ambassador of Philippine Cacao” to represent the Philippines at the recent chocolate tasting fair at United Nations headquarters.

Raquel T. Choa with Cacao de Bola display at the UN Headquarters. INQUIRER/Carol Tanjutco

On Dec. 6, Choa participated in a whole day chocolate tasting fair entitled “Le Salon Du Chocolat” at the United Nations Lobby. She wowed attendees that included members of the Arab Ladies Club of the United Nations (ALUN) and the United Nations African Ambassadors Spouses Group (UNAASG), which invited 21 Consulates General/Missions to Le Salon Du Chocolat

The Philippine Consulate General also presented other popular Philippine chocolates including the award-winning Malagos Chocolate of Davao at the event.