Beauty Apothecary Valentine Station is being held at Beauty Apothecary on the second basement floor of Isetan Shinjuku. It runs until February 14th.
Austrian chocolate brand Zotter has made its first appearance at Isetan. Labooko (35g, two bars, 1,050 yen), a set of two chocolate bars, offers milk and dark chocolates with different cocoa content and origins, as well as strawberry, a seasonal favorite, and rice white and rice dark, made with rice milk suitable for people with dairy allergies.
All of the chocolates use raw or brown sugar instead of refined sugar. The gentle sweetness brings out the umami of the cocoa and the tartness of the fruit. Other products include the Nashis Collection (2 varieties/1,600 yen), a set of six small Loveco chocolates, and Balleros (100g/1,400 yen), made of nuts and dried fruit wrapped in chocolate and coated with cocoa powder or fruit powder. Cacao nibs (70g/1,100 yen), made from roasted and crushed cacao beans, can be used in baking and cooking, and can also be eaten as a healthy snack rich in polyphenols. The brand's ingredients are organically grown and fair trade, and are certified organic in Austria. Chocolate for yourself comes in stick form. Belgian organic chocolate "GREEN DREAM" combines fruit flavors with a dark chocolate base containing over 72% cacao, and is also fair trade and dairy-free. German confectionery brand "Beauty Sweeties" offers crispy chocolates in white chocolate with plenty of fruit. With feminine packaging, the shop targets women who care about their health and beauty. "This year, stick bars that can be easily eaten for oneself are popular. Many customers buy Chaya Macrobiotics' cashew nut chocolate (70g/525 yen) in bulk because of its excellent cost performance," says a store staff member. Other products on offer include "Gohoubi," a gluten-free cookie that uses no animal-derived dairy, eggs, refined sugar, or wheat flour; and "NEW TREE," a popular Belgian chocolate known for its natural flavor and gentle fruit and herb aromas. The shop, which advocates beauty from the inside out as well as the outside, offers healthy chocolates that make great gifts for Valentine's Day parties with friends or for health-conscious men.