Murcia Backyard Cacao Area
Description
Backyard cacao and smallholder tablea traditions. In Murcia, the foothill town directly above Bacolod, its nearest upland vegetable source. Cacao here is backyard-scale rather than plantation — trees in house lots, beans dried on mats, then roasted, ground and pressed into tablea discs. Tablea is pure cacao with nothing added; it’s what sikwate and champorado are made from. Buy at the town market and ask for the local one rather than a commercial brand.
Tips
The easiest upland belt to reach from Bacolod — a half-day rather than an expedition. The same road continues to Mambukal, so pair the foothill farms with the hot springs and falls.
Stops
Northern Sugar & Seafood Corridor
How to get there
Roughly 30-45 minutes from Bacolod by jeepney — the same road continues up to Mambukal.
Best Times
Morning, while foothill produce is heading down to Bacolod.
