2017 Academy of Chocolate Awards (UK)

This recognition honors all the hardworking farmers in the country. Mabuhay ang magsasakang Pilipino !

“I attribute the win to the hard work and dedication the farmers put in the preparation of the cocoa beans before they even become chocolate,” said Rex Puentespina, proud farmer and chocolate maker  at Malagos Agri-Ventures Corp., the company that makes the award-winning chocolates.

2017 ACADEMY OF CHOCOLATE RESULTS

TREE-TO-BAR Category

Malagos 65% Dark Chocolate   BRONZE

Malagos 72% Dark Chocolate   BRONZE

Malagos 85% Dark Chocolate   Commended

DRINKING CHOCOLATE Category

Malagos 100% Unsweetened Chocolate   SILVER

The announcement was made on the Academy of Chocolate’s website http://acadofchoc.com/results-16-c.asp. The London-based group comprising various professionals in the industry holds the independent competition to give recognition to excellence in fine chocolate-making. It aims to raise appreciation for fine chocolates as well as promote transparency in the sourcing of the prime ingredient for chocolates, the cocoa bean.

PRESS RELEASE (June 2017)

FILIPINO CHOCOLATE WINS SILVER AND 2 BRONZES AT INTERNATIONAL CHOCOLATE COMPETITION
(Sweet victory for Davao chocolate maker and cacao farmers.)

Davao-based Malagos Chocolate bagged one (1)  Silver and two (2) Bronzes at the 2017 Academy of Chocolate Awards in London. This is the 7th international award for Malagos Chocolate and a major victory for Filipino cacao farmers.

Last year, 2016, Malagos 100% Unsweetened Chocolate (Drinking Chocolate category) won SILVER and 2 STARS (out of 3 stars) at the Academy of Chocolate and Great Taste Awards in London, UK, respectively. In October 2015, Malagos 65% Dark Chocolate was given the SILVER in the World Drinking Chocolate Competition organized by the International Chocolate Awards in Hannover, Germany. In April of that same year, Malagos Unsweetened Chocolate also won the BRONZE Award for Best Unflavoured Drinking Chocolate at the 2015 Academy of Chocolate Awards in London, UK

“I attribute the win to the hard work and dedication the farmers put in the preparation of the cocoa bean before it even becomes chocolate,” said Rex Puentespina, Chocolate Maker and Sales & Marketing director at Malagos Agri-Ventures Corp., the company that makes the award-winning chocolates.

Malagos Agri-Ventures is part of the Puentespina Group of Companies, which is owned and run by the Puentespina family of Davao. The family has been in the business of agriculture for more than three decades, starting out with various agricultural services and activities including tropical plants and flower production, as well as the manufacture of fine foods. It works closely with more than 40 small farmers in Davao and grows its own cacao trees on its farm in Calinan, Davao City.

“Our chocolates are tree-to-bar,” said Puentespina, emphasizing that the entire process of making Malagos Chocolates – including the planting, growing, fermentation, drying, sorting, roasting and production of the chocolate – is done on the premises. Tree-to-bar chocolates possess a more distinctive and pronounced taste as the chocolate can be traced back to the unique characteristics of the cacao beans used in their manufacture. The area where Malagos Chocolate grows its cacao beans on the island of Mindanao is known to be a highly diverse agricultural area.

MalagosAgri-Ventures has its own cacao nursery which is certified by the Bureau of Plant Industry. It also supplies true-to-type cacao seedlings, seeds and scions all over Mindanao.

The company started its chocolate business only in 2012, when it ventured into making premium single-origin cocoa liquor. It built on the training it received from the Mars Cocoa Sustainability Team on how to grow and produce high-quality cacao beans, and the technical assistance of the PUM (Programma Uitzending Managers), an organization of senior experts based in the Netherlands.

“We grow Trinitario clones, a cross between the Criollo and Forastero varieties, specifically and predominantly the UF 18, BR 25 and PBC 123 clones. The beans we grow are considered as fine flavor beans. These beans are manually harvested then fermented on the farm to further enhance naturally the complex flavor of cocoa,” explained Puentespina.

Since its initial venture into chocolate-making, the company has invested in solar dryers, precision-controlled roasters, ball mill grinders, conching & tempering machines. The company still continuously upgrades its equipment and technology, producing other premium, single-origin chocolate products such as Malagos65%, 72%, and 85% Dark Chocolates, and Malagos Roasted Cocoa Nibs. The award-winning entry, Malagos 100% Unsweetened Chocolate, was the company’s first efforts in its aim to produce high-quality, single-origin chocolates.

Winners are judged by the Academy of Chocolate and by a panel of international journalists, chefs, pastry chefs and experts in chocolate and food, paying particular attention to the product’s appearance, depth of aroma, flavor, length and complexity. The Academy of Chocolate was organized to campaign for better chocolate and promote greater awareness of the difference between fine chocolate and mass-produced chocolate confectionery.

ENDS

ABOUT MALAGOS AGRI-VENTURES CORP.

MalagosAgri-Ventures Corporation produces single-origin premium chocolates from cacao trees grown in the foothills of Mount Talomo in the Davao region of Mindanao Island in the southern Philippines. Its chocolates are sold in select stores in the Philippines, as well as distributed in Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, and the United States.

Malagos Agri-Ventures Corporation is a family-owned corporation established in 2012 and is based in Agdao, Davao City. It is a member of the Puentespina Group of Companies. The group is engaged in various agricultural and fine foods enterprises including Hydrock Wells, Inc;,Greenpoles Inc.’ Puentespina Orchids and Tropical Plants, Inc,; Malagos Garden Resort; Puentespina Farms; and Malagos Farmhouse.

REFER:

REX VICTOR PUENTESPINA
Chocolate Maker | Sales and Marketing Director
MalagosAgri-Ventures Corp.
Head Office : Bolcan St., Agdao, Davao City
Plant address : Malagos Garden Resort , Malagos, Baguio District, Davao City
Contact Number : 082-2218220
Manila Address : Cedar Hills Garden Center, 57 Mother Ignacia Street, Quezon City
Contact Number : 02 9299310, 02 9242730
Website : www.malagoschocolate.com
Email : rexpuentespina@orchid.ph, sales@malagoschcolate.com