4 RTD beverages from Philippine Tablea now out

The Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) is launched four new variants of its Ready-to-Drink (RTD) native chocolate product line. 

Developed by the Institute’s Food Processing Division (FPD), these

shelf-stable drinks was introduced during a product press launch on 22 February 2024 in Bicutan, Taguig City.

The four variants are developed from the Philippine tablea (pronounced as tableya) or tablea de batirol, sikwate or tablea-eh, a native Filipino tsokolate drink traditionally prepared in a pot over medium fire and stirred using a batirol to produce a frothy drink. (A batirol is a  wooden tool used to mix the drink before serving to prevent bits of tablea from sinking to the bottom of the pot.)

These are made from three basic ingredients: pure, finely ground cacao beans that is molded into a ball called tablea, water, and sugar.   The use of pure tablea gives the drink a rich, dark, and bitter chocolate flavor. 

The following are the different variants formulated to address specific consumer needs: 

1.  RTD Dairy-Based Tablea – a chocolate drink for people who wants to enjoy the full benefits of whole milk.

A ready to drink chocolate bevéage made from premium Philippine Tablea. This product is sweetened with sugar and the addition of full cream milk creates a rich and creamy consistency

2. RTD Lactose-Free Tablea – formulated for lactose intolerant people who cannot consume regular milk. A shelf chocolate drink prepared from Tablea concentrate.

This dark chocolate beverage is a decadent drink with the right balance of bitter and sweet and can be consumed either hot or cold.

3.  RTD Vegan Tablea – provides the consumers the relaxation of drinking a chocolate beverage using plant-based milk without using dairy. Rich and creamy beverage is a fully plant-based chocolate drink, Philippine tablea and sweetened with cane sugar.

4.  RTD Vegan/Sugar-free Tablea – ideal for sugar-sensitive (diabetic) consumers and people who are restricting their carbohydrate intake.

This smooth and rich vegan, and sugar-free chocolate drink is made from premium Philippine tablea, plant-based milk and sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners.

 (FPD-ITDI\\ ITDI S&T Media Service)