10 Best Tablea in the Philippines 2026 | Buying Guide Reviewed by Nutritionist-Dietitian
The thought of a well-made tsokolateng tablea ready to be sipped and savored is enough to make every chocolate lover's mouth water. This drink may not be unique to our country, but we've definitely made our own unique twists on how it should be prepared and served. In the Philippines, tablea dates all the way back to Spanish colonial times and has since become a part of Filipino food culture.
With so many choices for good tablea in the market, it can be hard to pick the right one. Don't worry, as we've rounded up the best tableas available online to help narrow down your options. We've also prepared a buying guide, fact-checked and reviewed by registered nutritionist-dietitian Samantha Morales, to help you take your chocolate experience a notch higher.
Samantha began her career in clinical nutrition and weight management at a tertiary hospital in Manila, Philippines. Her practice allowed her to give nutrition counseling and plan modified diets for patients with medical conditions. Presently, she does private practice to focus on true holistic wellness - an approach that believes in aligning one's mind, body, and spiritual well-being.
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The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
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How to Choose Tablea – Buying Guide
When choosing tableas, opt for those made from fermented cocoa beans for the best flavor. Additionally, tableas come in different forms, including tablets, rolled, or powdered, giving you flexibility in how you use them. For more detailed guidance, refer to our buying guide below.
Pick Tableas Made From Fermented Cocoa Beans
Fermentation in cacao beans gives them a good bitter taste while killing germs and shedding the seed coat from the kernel. Properly fermenting the beans enhances the flavor and acidity of chocolate. This process, which should be between 6 to 10 days, turns the purplish color of the beans into a reddish one.
You will know if cacao beans have been fermented by their bitter flavor, unlike unfermented beans, which yield a bland taste. Fermenting can involve simply sun-drying the cacao beans, after which the beans are cooked in extremely high heat to have that roasted aroma. This also makes grinding the cacao easier, especially for home-based tablea makers who have to grind them by hand.
A Sticky Texture Indicates Freshness and Rich Consistency
A well-ground tablea should have a sticky and greasy feel to it instead of a powdery one. The grease is a sign of the fat content in each tablea, which gives the chocolate a buttery feel. It also points to freshness because it means that the tablea has been ground, shaped, and packed recently.
However, this does not mean that days- or weeks-old tablea will taste any differently as freshly-made ones since, fortunately, tableas rarely expire. However, if you're the type who likes chocolate in powder form, take note that you can expect less fat content in your tablea pack.
Choose Between Pure or Sweetened Variants
Cacao beans have a naturally bitter taste which is why some people turn to tableas with sugar or sweetener for a certain type of sweetness that'll match their preference. On the other hand, pure and unsweetened variants might be the better option for bakers or those who are health-conscious. Here is why you should choose between pure and sweetened tableas.
Use Pure or Unsweetened Variants for Baking
When tableas are advertised as pure or natural, they are made of 100% cacao without sugar or additives. Unsweetened dark chocolates are usually made from premium quality beans to achieve their strong, robust taste. The natural quality of cacao beans and the fermentation process are much easier to determine in pure tablea products.
Unsweetened variants give you the freedom to add as much or as little sugar or milk as you want to your snacks and drinks. It is also a wiser choice when using chocolate in baking recipes since you'll have a better idea of how much sugar can go into your desserts. This is better for those who are health-conscious.
Go for Sweetened Tableas for Toppings or Drinks
On the other hand, sweetened tablea already contains sugar or muscovado, a sugar substitute. If you have a sweet tooth, this would probably be more to your liking since you won't need to add sugar anymore. Kids would also naturally prefer sweetened tablea for a chocolate-based drink, especially when coupled with milk.
They are good for those who still need help figuring out the right ratio of sugar or sweetener for their drink. When incorporating sweetened tablea into desserts, make sure to adjust the amount of sugar you will add to the batter and do a taste test so that you wouldn't end up with overly sweet pastries.
Select From Different Forms: Tablets, Rolled, or Powdered
Tablea often comes in tablet form, created using uniform molds after the beans have been ground. Rolled tableas are typically rolled by hand following sanitary measures and are quite similar but thicker than tablets. Powdered tableas are especially convenient to make, as you can pour the contents straight into your mug and dissolve them in water.
10 Best Tablea to Buy Online
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Details | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type | Form | Best For | Quantity | ||||
1 | Balay de Cacao Tablea |  | Pure/Unsweetened | Coin | Drinking, Champorado | 250 g | |
2 | Auro Chocolate 100% Cacao Unsweetened Chocolate Tablea Coins |  | Pure/Unsweetened | Coin | Baking, Drinking | 1 kg | |
3 | Kablon Farms Pure Tablea |  | Pure/Unsweetened | Coin | Drinking, Champorado | 12 Coins | |
4 | Greendahan Keto Cacao Tablea |  | Pure/Unsweetened | Tablet | Baking, Drinking, Champorado | 10 Tablets | |
5 | Theo & Philo Tablea Malabog |  | Pure/Unsweetened | Tablet | Baking、Drinking、Champorado | 10 Tablets | |
6 | Kablon Farms Instant Tablea (Pure Cacao) |  | Pure/Unsweetened | Powder | Drinking, Champorado | 100 g | |
7 | Palanyag Tablea de Davao |  | Pure/Unsweetened | Coin | Drinking | 100 g | |
8 | Cacao de Davao Premium Tablea Unsweetened |  | Pure/Unsweetened | Tablet | Drinking | 30 Coins | |
9 | Wonder Bean PH Premium Tablea |  | Pure/Unsweetened | Tablet | Drinking | 100 g | |
10 | Naturefoods Tablea |  | Pure/Unsweetened | Tablet | Drinking | 150 g | |
| Type | Pure/Unsweetened |
|---|---|
| Form | Coin |
| Best For | Drinking, Champorado |
| Quantity | 250 g |
Auro Chocolate100% Cacao Unsweetened Chocolate Tablea Coins
| Type | Pure/Unsweetened |
|---|---|
| Form | Coin |
| Best For | Baking, Drinking |
| Quantity | 1 kg |
| Type | Pure/Unsweetened |
|---|---|
| Form | Coin |
| Best For | Drinking, Champorado |
| Quantity | 12 Coins |
| Type | Pure/Unsweetened |
|---|---|
| Form | Tablet |
| Best For | Baking, Drinking, Champorado |
| Quantity | 10 Tablets |
| Type | Pure/Unsweetened |
|---|---|
| Form | Tablet |
| Best For | Baking、Drinking、Champorado |
| Quantity | 10 Tablets |
| Type | Pure/Unsweetened |
|---|---|
| Form | Powder |
| Best For | Drinking, Champorado |
| Quantity | 100 g |
| Type | Pure/Unsweetened |
|---|---|
| Form | Coin |
| Best For | Drinking |
| Quantity | 100 g |
| Type | Pure/Unsweetened |
|---|---|
| Form | Tablet |
| Best For | Drinking |
| Quantity | 30 Coins |
| Type | Pure/Unsweetened |
|---|---|
| Form | Tablet |
| Best For | Drinking |
| Quantity | 100 g |
| Type | Pure/Unsweetened |
|---|---|
| Form | Tablet |
| Best For | Drinking |
| Quantity | 150 g |
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
What Is Tablea?
Tablea is essentially grounded-up fermented and roasted cocoa beans that are shaped into tablets or discs, hence the name. Compared to European-style hot chocolates, tablea has more body to it, given that the entire cocoa bean is used, unlike the former, which often contains other fillers or additives.
They can be melted in water for a hot chocolate drink or sikwate in many regions, and they can also be added to baking recipes! The popular producers of tablea de cacao hail from Davao City, Batangas, and Cebu, but almost every region in the country cultivates their love for tablea by producing their own brands.
Is Tablea Healthy?
Yes, tablea is a healthier alternative to sweet and processed chocolate drinks you find in the supermarket, especially if you go for the unsweetened variant and limit the sugar and milk you will add. Drinking tablea is good for people who have high blood pressure due to the natural flavonoids which lower blood pressure and improve blood flow.
Is Tablea Dark Chocolate?
Tablea and dark chocolate are products of cacao beans but are different. Tablea is made by grinding, fermenting, and roasting pure cacao beans. Dark chocolates are also produced from powdered cacao beans but are mixed with milk, sugar, and cocoa butter. Although both can be used in cooking, tablea cannot be eaten as is, compared to dark chocolate.
Get the Right Tools for Your Tablea Creations
There are a ton of ways to enjoy your tablea from the classic drink to incorporating it to different dishes, snacks, and baked goods. The possibilities are endless! It only takes a little creativity and a dash of tablea to satisfy your chocolate cravings. With that said, you'll probably need a few baking tools and equipment items to make your tablea treats!
How We Chose and Ranked Our Product Recommendations
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
The descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
