![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.asianinny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/godiva-1.jpg\" "\\"GODIVA")
<\/a><\/p>\nMany Asian-American consumers practice various traditions during the Lunar New Year to usher in luck and prosperity, including eating sweets to symbolize the beginning of a \u201csweet\u201d year. Confectionary, such as chocolates in the GODIVA \u201cYear of the Horse\u201d collection, are perfect for sharing during this special holiday. The collection features three exceptionally delectable chocolate pieces that contain ingredients popular with Asian consumers, such as pears, cherries and pineapples. The pieces, which are sold as a part of a selection of Lunar New Year gift boxes, include:<\/p>\n
\u2022\tDark Caramel Pear \u2013 crunchy caramel pear ganache made with a blend of Venezuela milk chocolate and Santo Domingo dark chocolate and a touch of vanilla, enrobed in dark chocolate
\n\u2022\tMilk Cherry Almond \u2013 crunchy almond praline blended with Vanuatu-origin chocolate, sour cherry and a hint of honey, enrobed in milk chocolate
\n\u2022\tWhite Pineapple Macadamia \u2013 sweet Dominican Republic white chocolate ganache blended with nutty macadamia cream and fruity pineapple, enrobed in white chocolate
\n\u201cThe \u2018Year of the Horse\u2019 chocolate pieces were developed specifically for the Asian market with the Asian consumer in mind,\u201d said David Funaro, Senior Chef Chocolatier at GODIVA. \u201cWe took the time to understand and to learn which flavors our Asian consumers prefer. For Lunar New Year, we wanted to create pieces that are reflective of foods commonly eaten during the holiday and that are symbolic of \u2018luck\u2019 and \u2018unity\u2019 in the Asian culture.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 20-piece Lunar New Year Gift Box is encased in a red cover with an iconic image of Lady Godiva on her galloping horse embossed in gold. The 32-piece Luxury Gift Box is covered in red velvet, offering customers a treasured keepsake beyond the Lunar New Year holiday. With its gold and red-themed design, both gift boxes are perfect for gifting to friends and family during the Lunar New Year.<\/p>\n
The \u201cYear of the Horse\u201d collection also holds special significance since the company\u2019s logo is Lady Godiva on horseback, an image replicated in this collection\u2019s pieces.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt our company, we are referring to 2014 as the \u2018Year of GODIVA\u2019,\u201d said Michelle Chin, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for GODIVA North America. \u201cNot only is this year our 88th anniversary, a number considered extremely auspicious in many Asian cultures, but this year\u2019s zodiac sign is essentially our logo. With the popularity of our annual zodiac pieces in Asia, and based on our sales and customer feedback from the Mid-Autumn Festival Chocolate Mooncakes, we know our Asian customers, and all of our other customers, will love our Lunar New Year \u2018Year of the Horse\u2019 collection.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since 2004, GODIVA has created unique pieces in the PacRim region for Lunar New Year each year to correspond with the Chinese zodiac. Last year, GODIVA tested interest for Lunar New Year pieces in the U.S. Asian-American market by offering \u201cYear of the Snake\u201d chocolates in a few select stores. The chocolates quickly sold out within days, well before the Lunar New Year holiday. GODIVA expects the same results this year with the \u201cYear of the Horse\u201d collection.<\/p>\n