11/11: Happy Pepero Day!

To those "in the know" about Asian snacks (Asian-Ams, you know I'm looking at you!), try to not freak out when I tell you that there is no Pocky here in South Korea. But never fear - you've got Pepero here - another product from the ubiquitous Lotte brand.

Pepero Day is a "Hallmark holiday" of sorts here (although I guess you could call it a Lotte Holiday, as if they needed any other product in the Korean market...). See, Pepero is a biscuit stick dipped in chocolate, so the date 11/11 (if you don't count the forward slash as a slanted Pepero) looks like four of these beloved little stick snacks! It seems to have taken on the role of Valentine's Day here in Korea, and it's not just a money-maker for Lotte - just about every bakery and sweet shop may sell their own (hand made! giant!) biscuit sticks dipped in chocolate. My roommate spent six hours hand-dipping her own Peperos for her boyfriend. That's love...especially since Pepero (all brands!) are on sale (half-price!!!) this week. I stocked up. :)

I'll hand it to the folks at Lotte that this is a clever little piece of marketing. But I guess it's a little weird for me that Koreans will be obsessed with stuffing biscuit sticks in their mouths when it's, like, the anniversary of the end of World War I. Eh, whatever.

I wonder what will happen in 2011? 11/11/11?!?! Korea will drown in Peperos!

PS For those wondering, Pepero tastes exactly like Pocky! But I guess imitation is the best form of flattery, no?