Crafting a sweet success story that reverberates with the rich history of cacao in Camiguin, Julieta Dela Cerna, a dedicated cacao entrepreneur, said her fervor for farming and love for her plants started her journey to creating Mama Jita's Tablea. Little did she know that her dedication would eventually lead to a thriving business that not only honors Filipino heritage in cacao food production but also helps local communities.
The Filipino tablea, a traditional chocolate drink derived from cacao beans, has been a part of local culture for centuries. Julieta's journey began when she found herself with an abundance of cacao beans but no buyers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of letting her harvest go to waste, she decided to learn the art of making tablea, a centuries-old craft with a deeply rooted history.
Mama Jita's Tablea production is a labor of love, where every step in the process is a testament to preserving tradition. The journey starts with meticulous sorting to ensure the cacao beans' quality.
Roasting, cracking, grinding, and cooling are all part of the process, culminating in the creation of cocoa liquor, which is then shaped into tablets, dried, and packed for eager customers. The commitment to quality extends to their farming practices as well, where organic fertilizers are used, ensuring both the quality of cacao beans and the environment's health.
Mama Jita's Tablea boasts prestigious certification from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), signifying their dedication to maintaining the highest product standards.
"Akong plano, magdugang ko para sa product line sama sa mga cacao powder, cacao vinegar, chocolate, ug ice cream nga gikan sa Mama Jita’s Tablea na masarap ang lasa at may strong aroma [I plan to add cacao powder, cacao vinegar, chocolate, and ice cream made from Mama Jita's Tablea that tastes good and has a strong aroma for the product line]," Julieta said.
The goal is to make these delectable creations available not only in local markets but also in malls, pasalubong shops, and beyond, bringing a taste of Camiguin to the rest of the Philippines.
But to transform a humble passion into a thriving business, Mama Jita's Tablea needed support, and that's where the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) stepped in. Through the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), Mama Jita's Food Products received essential assistance.
They acquired state-of-the-art equipment, including a roaster machine, cacao colloid mill, industrial multipurpose cacao cracker dehuller winnower, and stainless tables, revolutionizing their cacao processing.
"Magaan lang sa pagbayad kasi binigyan kami ng one-year grace period, three years to pay, zero interest [It's easy to pay because we were given a one-year grace period, three years to pay, zero interest]," Julieta said, citing how DOST helped them acquire the capital they need to boost their production.
Currently, Mama Jita's Tablea product price range is P120 for 100 grams, P270 for 250 grams, P500 for 500 grams, and P950 for 1,000 grams. They can be bought at Mama Jita's production facility at Maslog, Balbagon, Mambajao, public markets in the province, and Pasalubong sections in the malls of Cagayan de Oro City.
