Say 'I love you' with chocolate, red roses
Say 'I love you' with chocolate, red roses
Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
As Valentine's Day approaches right around the corner, chocolate
and red rose sales has seen a significant increase.
Elena Martha, co-owner of the Okky & Paul Cake, Chocolate and
Bakery Shop in Manggarai, South Jakarta, said on Wednesday that
demand for sweets and chocolates had increased by 30 percent.
"I don't exactly know how many chocolates have been sold, but
I'm now making about Rp 4 million (US$470) per day compared to
the usual Rp 3 million," she told The Jakarta Post.
Her chocolate shop offers several varieties of chocolate, from
unique small pieces shaped like roses, leaves, windmills and
hearts pierced by an arrow, to beautifully carved large
sculptures like the Eiffel Tower, cats, rabbits, penguins and
owls.
"All the ingredients are from Indonesia, but the molds for the
small pieces come from Belgium, as I'd spent some time studying
there and I know where to find cute molds," she explained.
Offered in an array of flavors and colors -- milk and dark
chocolates, as well as white and pink -- the chocolates sell for
between Rp 3,000 to Rp 40,000.
Elena's shop also offers a special service -- as long as
customers knew what kind of chocolate they wanted, her brother,
Paul, makes a sample at no cost.
"If they like the sample and decide to place an order, then we
provide a quotation," said Elena. The prices depend on the size
and complexity involved in making the chocolates.
Chocolate is not the only item of choice considered by lovers
planning to spend a romantic evening Valentine's Day, which falls
this Saturday. Flowers, especially red roses, are among the top
demands.
Lily Sumarsih, assistant marketing manager of Mangkurajo Fresh
Flower Shop in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, said orders for red
roses had doubled to 140 bouquets, each containing 20 roses.
"Normally, we sell around 70 bouquets of red roses each day at
Rp 75,000 each," said Lily. On the special day, the price would
double to Rp 150,000.
The rise in chocolate and red rose sales shows that many
people are maintaining the Valentine's Day tradition, even though
it may be an imported tradition, and love is in the air across
the capital.
As Richard, a 24-year-old college student, put it, "This is
the first time I'm going to spend Valentine's Day with my
girl ... so I think I'm going to give her something special,
something like a box of chocolate and a red long-stemmed rose,
just to make it a more romantic, memorable evening."