I heard the word tablea— also spelled tableya— so many times over my first couple of weeks in the Philippines, back in early 2017. I even bought some honey tablea in Bohol a couple of years ago. Then again, when I went back in to research Philippine …
Ruby Chocolate: Where to Buy It & What It Is
Ever since the controversial new ruby chocolate was revealed at a Shanghai trade show in September 2017, the ever-wandering eye of the public has been curious about pink chocolate. China's not exactly a hub for chocolate making (yet). But one of the …
5 Delicious Davao City Chocolate Destinations
The Davao City chocolate scene is quite developed, with nearly a dozen local chocolate makers using local cacao to make chocolate. More often than not, this cacao is from their own farm. Despite that, most of this chocolate is really hard to find …
How Young People Are Reorienting Philippine Cacao
A commonly-quoted statistic is that the average age of a cacao farmer is 50 years old. That statistic comes from this 2014 article detailing studies done to determine the average age of cocoa farmers in West Africa. So while that number is not …
Filipino Chocolate & Cacao Culture
People often remark that Filipinos and Mexicans have a lot in common, and this isn't pure coincidence. From cuisine and Catholicism to a parallel colonial history, these shared traits extend to chocolate. Or rather, a lack thereof. For an audio …
South Korea Itinerary: 2 Weeks Or Less (From A Local)
I have so many feelings about South Korea. Two weeks in Korea? Try three years. That's how long I've lived here by now, discovering the country's beautiful places and the people who live there. So while I could write a South Korea itinerary centered …
How & Why to Visit CoEx Coffee Expo in Seoul
If you've ever been to Seoul, you've seen the evidence of thousands of coffee shops, one or two per corner. Over the last couple of decades, coffee has also managed to invade the homes of millions of Koreans, and stage several annual coffee festivals …
Hong Kong Chocolate Guide: 23 Spots To Check Out
Hong Kong chocolate shops are few and far between. But places to buy chocolate in Hong Kong? Those are all over, almost all online. After all, Hong Hong is one of the most expensive cities in the world, with a budding chocolate culture to match. Of …
Hong Kong Chocolate Culture: When West Meets East
At first glance, modern Hong Kong actually has the feel of a big city in China. But, if you pause on a street corner and listen to a few exchanges, just by your ear you can sense the difference in the air. There's still a rush, but time is passing in …
Oahu Chocolate Guide: 13 Hawaiian Chocolate Destinations
You probably found this while looking for Hawaiian chocolate shops, and maybe even Honolulu chocolate shops in particular. But did you know that Hawaii is the only state in the US which can actually grow chocolate? The chocolate tree is called …
