Pepero
Pepero (빼빼로) is a cookie stick, dipped in compound chocolate, manufactured by Lotte Confectionery in South Korea since 1983.[1]
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Flavors [edit]
As of 2007, it was sold in 10 different flavors:
- Regular or Chocolate
- Strawberry-flavored
- Almond Chocolate
- Nude (chocolate in the center)
- Nude Lemon Cheese
- Cocoa
- Soft
- Cheese
- "Woman in White" and "Man in Black" are slightly more "classy" brands of Pepero, and both have chocolate cookie bits scattered throughout the chocolate dip.
- Chocolate covered pretzel sticks.
Pepero Day [edit]
Pepero Day is an observance in South Korea similar to Valentine's Day. It is named after the Korean snack Pepero and held on November 11, since the date "11/11" resembles four sticks of Pepero.[2][3][4] The holiday is observed mostly by young people and couples, who exchange Pepero sticks, other candies, and romantic gifts. Lotte denies starting the holiday and instead states that they noticed a bump in Pepero sales around November 11 and after continued popularity they decided to then encourage the holiday with special gift boxes and other promotions. Some consider it to be a contrived holiday and some teachers have encouraged children to exchange healthy snacks to help combat obesity. An alternative "Garaetteok Day" (sticks of white tteok) has been proposed.[5]
According to one story, Pepero Day was started in 1994 by students at a girls' middle school in Busan, where they exchanged Pepero sticks as gifts to wish one another to grow "as tall and slender as a Pepero".[6]
Lotte usually does about 55% of their Pepero business in November every year.
References [edit]
- ^ (Korean) Pepero Type
- ^ "Fighting Obesity". JoongAng Daily. 9 November 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
- ^ "November 11th, hope the day is skinny(Korean)". yonhapnews Daily. 13 November 1996. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
- ^ Sung So-young (27 October 2008). "This tasty corner of Bangsan Market stirs up Seoul’s do-it-yourself bakers". JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
- ^ (Korean) Garaetteok Day, Yonhap News, 2009-11-11. Retrieved 2010-06-25.
- ^ Lee Ho-jeong (12 November 2002). "'Holiday' a boon for maker of chocolate snack". JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
External links [edit]
- Official Pepero Site (Korean)
- The Pepero Song+ flash
- Pepero Day sweet for food retailers (English)
- Sth Korea calendar laden with love (English)
- Big bucks in a youthful craze (English)
- Abundant `Special' Days Fatten Sales (English)
