HUGO & VICTOR, a Paris-based sweets brand founded in 2010, will be releasing a new gift box called "Carnet" for the 2017 Valentine's Day season. The launch event was held in Tokyo. The first Valentine's Day offering is the "Coeur de Fraise" (6 pieces, 3,024 yen including tax), a strawberry-themed treat that is also popular among Japanese people. The brand selected "Mala des Bois," a premium variety considered the most popular among the many varieties of strawberries grown in France. Using generous amounts of these strawberries, known for their rich, tart aroma and fresh sweetness, the brand has created three limited-edition bonbons: "Strawberry Jelly Enrobé," which is encased in strawberry jelly, "Strawberry Caramel Spherique," and "White Chocolate and Strawberry Ganache." Milk chocolate is used for these three, as it is believed to best bring out the strawberry flavor.
The White Day collection "Amour Eternelle" (6 pieces, 3,024 yen including tax) is based on the theme of "BEAUTY," which promotes the beauty of women, and all new items use herbs. For example, "Lavender Ganache" promotes mental stability, peace, and restful sleep, while "Vervain Sphère" uses herbs to promote anti-stress and mental stability through its fragrance. "Thyme Ganache" uses herbs known to promote energy, vitality, and respiratory control, aiming to create chocolate that makes you beautiful just by eating it.
The golden-packaged "Le Secret de la Cabos" (12 pieces, 5,184 yen including tax) will be released exclusively at Salon du Chocolat. This collection, themed around "praline" and "gastronomy," is inspired by the south of France, the hometown of chef pastry chef Hugues Pouget. There are also three new items. They are "Praline and Pine Nut Ganache," "Praline and Almond Spheriques," and "Tonka and Praline Ganache." Hugues says he has a strong emotional attachment to developing these.
"I'm from the south of France. Pistou soup and Tarte Niçoise are local dishes from the south of France. Pine nuts are an ingredient that both of these dishes use in abundance. This time, I thought of my hometown and selected pine nuts to focus on," says Hugues.
In addition, a limited-edition winter package for their signature product, "Carnet Douze Chocolat," called "Sapin en Etoile," is scheduled to go on sale around December.
