Pepero

The cover of a Pepero box

Pepero (빼빼로) is a cookie stick, dipped in chocolate syrup, manufactured by Lotte Confectionery in South Korea since 1983.^[1] It was inspired by the Japanese product, Pocky produced by Glico.^[2]

Flavors

Pepero Almond sticks

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.
• Topic, a style similar to Japanese Toppo, also manufactured by Lotte.

Pepero Day

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.^[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 11th and after continued popularity they decided to then encourage the holiday with special gift boxes and other promotions.^[2] 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]

In Japan, a similar Pocky Day was started; however, it has failed to gain traction.^[2]

Sales in 2008

Lotte usually does about 55% of their Pepero business in November every year.

See also

• List of Korea-related topics
• Contemporary culture of South Korea
• Pocky

References

1. ^ "Pepero History". http://www.pepero.co.kr/pepero/is/pepero.jsp. Retrieved 11 November 2008. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Lina Yoon (10 November 2006). "On Pepero Day, Lotte enjoys sweet success". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06314/737326-82.stm. Retrieved 11 November 2008. 
3. ^ "Fighting Obesity". JoongAng Daily. 9 November 2007. http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2882524. Retrieved 11 November 2008. 
4. ^ Sung So-young (27 October 2008). "This tasty corner of Bangsan Market stirs up Seoul’s do-it-yourself bakers". JoongAng Daily. http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2896596. Retrieved 11 November 2008. 
5. ^ (Korean) Garaetteok Day, Yonhap News, 2009-11-11. Retrieved 2010-06-25.
6. ^ Lee Ho-jeong (12 November 2002). "'Holiday' a boon for maker of chocolate snack". JoongAng Daily. http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=1911011. Retrieved 11 November 2008. 

External links

• 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)