hot chocolate drink ( sikwate)

Sikwate, as we call it in our hometown... the native version of American "hot chocolate" drink yet tastes as good or some would find it way better. This is made of "tablea" which is from dried cacao beans, roasted, and ground then formed into tablets.
We used to have some cacao trees before and as a kid I enjoyed knocking on the fruit to know if its ready for harvest. Then our dear Manang Encar would take the beans out from the shell, place it on a "nigo" then let it sun dry. When all has dried up, she roasted it then finally process it in a grinder. It will come out pasty and enticingly aromatic with a chocolatey goodness. This is then formed into balls and flattened out a bit to make a tablet, then air dry til it hardens and whaaaalaaa! you now have a "tablea". With this incredible tablet you can create a hot chocolatey drink that is out of the ordinary, it's good to pair this up with puto maya, suman, even pan de sal and to my likes? panettone is a good choice as well.=)

Hot Chocolate Drink (sikwate)

• 1/2 cup of water
• 1 tablea tablet
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar

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• In a saucepan, boil 1/2 cup water ( this is good for 1 serving)
• When water boils, add the tablea and stir it constantly until it melts and smooths out
• Turn off heat, then add 2 tbsp brown sugar ( adjust sweetness according to taste)
• Serve hot