Ginza Mitsukoshi and Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi will hold the "2015 Valentine's Fair" from January 28th to February 14th. The theme for each store is "Essence of Love (Essence de l'amour)" for the Ginza store, and "Chocolate Museum (Le Musee du chocolat)" for the Nihonbashi store. Each store will sell limited edition products, chocolates making their first appearance in Japan, and chocolates made with carefully selected ingredients. Ginza Mitsukoshi will introduce chocolates that focus on cacao. In the 17th century, there was even debate about whether cacao was an aphrodisiac, and the essence of cacao itself and its smooth texture were said to resemble the euphoria felt when one is in love. The store has focused on the flavor of the cacao itself and has prepared "single bean" chocolates. XAVIER BERGER, the young genius who won the World Chocolate Master competition in 2010, will sell single-variety chocolates in boxes of four (1,500 yen), eight (2,900 yen), and 15 (5,000 yen) pieces.
Iain Burnett, available exclusively at the Ginza store, will sell his signature "Velvet Truffle Mild" chocolate (1,550 to 2,850 yen), made using carefully selected, premium single-bean cacao and fresh milk delivered only in the amount needed each morning from directly contracted dairy farmers.
The "Belgian Selection Box" (3,000 yen), which brings together eight Belgian chocolate brands, is limited to 500 sets. The set includes Dermien's Japan debut, as well as other long-established chocolateries such as DelRey and Leonidas. GALLOTHAI, a chocolate brand that has participated in the Salon du Chocolat, will be selling Benjarong Chocolate (1,800 yen), originally from Bangkok, Thailand. Each Benjarong is handcrafted using traditional Thai porcelain, and contains a single truffle chocolate in either passion fruit or mango milk, a uniquely tropical flavor, creating a luxurious chocolate experience reminiscent of a jewelry box. Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi will be showcasing chocolates focused on history and culture. The Okada Museum of Art Chocolate (2,407 yen) is a bonbon created by chocolatier Naoki Miura, who oversaw the film "Shitsuren Chocolatier." Based on the theme of Japanese ingredients, there are five flavors (walnut and Saikyo miso, yuzu and matcha, cherry blossom, matsutake and shochu, and sesame and fig), and these are exclusive delicacies that will satisfy both your eyes and your taste buds.
Prestat's "Red Velvet Truffle" (3,000 yen), which is available exclusively at the Nihonbashi store and is making its Japan debut, is a bright red layer cake made with plenty of raspberries, represented by a single truffle. The creamy filling is enveloped in sweet and sour raspberries, and when the flavors blend together in a balanced way in your mouth, it tastes like red velvet cake.
Debauve & Gallais' "Lady Amelie" (4,800 yen) is a limited edition chocolate assortment box that has been reproduced after 100 years. The box, decorated in a style popular in the 19th century, was made in 1913 at the request of Amelie d'Orléans, granddaughter of King Louis-Philippe, who was a patron of the brand. This chocolate, exclusive to the Nihonbashi store, contains four pistoles (old gold coins) made at the request of Marie Antoinette, and seven bonbons.
