CHOCO-LATE DE BATIROL OF BAGUIO CITY


“Coffee or hot chocolate?” The usual question I am asked when the morning mists hover and the need to awaken my senses comes in.

I’m not used to drinking coffee, thus, a hot chocolate made of cacao chocolate tablets (tablea) has been a familiar comforting drinks for me. I basically grew up with cacao trees at our backyard back in our hometown, thus, producing tablea was exploited as an opportunity for business by my family.

In this Neo-cordilleran rainforest garden named Choco-late de Batirol, I found myself sipping on a demitasse of hot chocolate blanketed by a chilly atmosphere with random conversations shared with good friends.




The first time I visited this garden was with Gay and Melo.  This time around was with my constant companions and travel buddies along with friends from Artstream Hospitality Management Group, Inc.


February 2014

December 2014
Choco-late de Batirol is a hot, thick, bittersweet blend, with a distinctive texture that calms your nerves and enriches your soul.  This is an ancient choco-late concoction with no preservatives.

The above statement is how this known concoction situated at the Camp John Hay of Baguio City is described in the restaurant’s menu.



The process of producing this concoction has been passed from one generation to another with the constant aid of their reliable iron pitcher termed batirol.  A wooden utensil known as batidor or molinillo will be moved in circular motion between the palms, until the desired thick and grainy moisture will be attained.

The process was presented to us by one of the owners and some in the group tried the whisking part.





Turon, suman sa lihia and bibingka graced the chocolate drinking affair. All these were among my favorite snacks since childhood.  It appears like a session of rekindling my childhood.





Choco-late de Batirol is a landmark when visiting Baguio City.  I fervently hope the brand won’t be so commercialized in the near future and stay as is – set up in a garden.  Currently, branches include those at: Northwalk II, City of San Fernando, Pampanga; Alauli, Pilar, Bataan and Nepo Quad, Angeles City.


We all came to Baguio for the relaxing vibe and a stay at one of the premier hotels of Camp John Hay, The Le Monet Hotel. A sip of hot chocolate in a garden where pine trees and sunflowers dwell was a great supplement to this weekend trip.



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