Sunbursts BALAY TABLEA

Cabatuan Local Blend Chocolate "TABLEA" has endured the test of time because of the distinct quality and smoothness of the cacao beans used and its unique blend brewing.

"Tsokolate" brewers have handed their expertise and blend from one generation to the next. This new generation of brewers is still practicing the traditional technique/process used by their ancestors who where cacao masters during the historic colonial days.

In 2012, the Local Government Unit of Cabatuan (LGU) lauched the massive revival of this treasured tradition by passing Sangguniang Bayan Resolution no. 2012-030 which officially made cacao as an alternative One Town One Product (OTOP) commodity in Cabatuan.

Innovations in treasured blend then followed, such as improvement of packaging and branding. The Municipal Government chose the brand "TAN TONO", in honor of the first Gobernadorcillo of Cabatuan.

Our goal is to perpetuate the legacy of our traditional Cabatuan Local Blend Chocolate. We manufacture our TABLEA using the traditional process through the use of METATE - a natural stone hand carved for crushing the cacao beans.

Out TABLEA is made through the synergy of skills, talent and dedication of our local people. Local farmers supply us with cacao beans and dried banana leaves (ramay). The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) train our farmers and laborers in the fermentation and drying of seeds as well as in roasting, grinding and packaging.

It has been the advocacy of Sunbursts BALAY TABLEA to help farmers in Cabatuan and those who are in need of a livelihood.

This thrust is inline with the program of our Local Government Unit together with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) when OTOP was launched to help boost the economy of our town. The program develops product-based Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and consequently generate jobs.

The management of sunburts BALAY TABLEA is committed to promote and enhance the popular consumption of Cabatuan Local Blend Chocolate as it performs its corporate social responsibility to the community.

Sunbursts Balay Tablea is a single proprietorship food processing business currently owned by Ms. Catherine V. Taleon. The company has been producing cocoa bean based products such as pure tablea and tablea with muscovado sugar for several years but was only established in 2012.

At present, the Sunbursts Balay Tablea has 5 employees and operates 6 hours a day, 6 times a week. Due to high volume of reject caused by manually-done processes, Ms. Taleon decided to seek the assistance of DOST through SETUP ISSF in order to improve production efficiency and product quality by upgrading the technology of the company.