[Anime Culture Monday] Anime Recipes: Giri Choco from Kimi ni Todoke

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It’s been a minute since we have prepared you with another recipe to add to your arsenal, but now, with Valentine’s Day approaching, now seems like a good time! Welcome back to our Anime Recipes series. One could roll their eyes at the number of times they have seen anime characters, always girls, painstakingly make for Valentine’s. Well today, we are going to be talking about the best kind of chocolate: giri choco.

You gotta give out something tooth-rottingly sweet. If you don’t, you are either a. cold, or b. do not want anything back on White Day! While you may want to give the person you like chocolate, what about your classmates or coworkers? “Well,” you think “Any old candy bar or chocolate will do”. Wrong. You can’t do that! It’s too cheap. That is where giri choco comes in! But what is giri choco and what does it stand for? Let’s examine the culture and meaning.


Giri Choco from Kimi ni Todoke

You may ask what is “giri choco”. Good timing. Giri choco or “obligatory chocolate” is what you give to those other than you boyfriend, girlfriend, crush on Valentine’s Day. In Japan, girls give chocolate on Valentine’s Day. If they have received some on Valentine’s Day, then boys are supposed to give them chocolate back on White Day (March 14th). If do don’t you are extremely rude or do not/cannot return their feelings.

Originally, giri choco was meant for anyone who was not your crush. However, as time has gone on, girls have searched for a way to give chocolate to others creating another layer in their gift giving customs in Japan. “tomo choco” or “friend chocolate” is now bequeathed to friends on this day where girls can all exchange little packages of homemade chocolates without the need to return them again on White Day. This part is especially easy on everyone because most people do not go all out, so it does alleviate the stress of gift giving slightly. Now-a-days, giri choco is what you give to people like your coworkers, classmates, and anyone whom you do not have a rather deep relationship with, but still feel obligated to give. Hence the “obligatory” part.

Now, there have been countless anime where characters give their crushes chocolate, and thankfully giri choco is rather hands off. You will not be whipping together a bunch of crazy ingredients like the scouts do in Sailor Moon when they attempt to make sweets for their boyfriends. Rather, you just have to follow a few small steps, get a few ingredients, and get yourself some cute trays.

Easy Peasy, Lemon Squeezy!

Anime-Recipes-Giri-Choco-from-Kimi-ni-Todoke-Capture-2-500x500 [Anime Culture Monday] Anime Recipes: Giri Choco from Kimi ni Todoke

What you will need:(Note: Serves 4+ people.)

Your choice of Chocolate (White, Milk, Black). Any will work.
*A couple of bars

Chocolate Molds

Nonstick oil spray

Coffee Mug

Optional Notes:

This is a VERY easy and simple recipe that is not too in depth. There will be a section after the main part that will talk about alternatives and other things you can do to have fun with it. Ideally, your chocolate will turn out just how you want it to be since this is so simple. Yes, you can just microwave it but it can scald the sugar so it is better. Feel free to melt the chocolate how you want regardless.


How to Cook It:

  1. 1

    If you have a double boiler, that will work as well. As most people do not, this recipe will talk about the most simple and standard way to make it.

  2. 2

    First take a saucepan and place your mug in the center of the pan. Pour water into the pan till the mug is about 1/2-2/3 submerged. Remember that you can always add more water.

  3. 3

    Turn on the heat to medium.

  4. 4

    Next, break your chocolate into small pieces so that it will melt easily. Also, if you are doing multiple types of chocolate, do one at a time. Do not do them all at once as you can burn them.

  5. 5

    Once the water has begun to bubble up, add your chocolate into the mug and wait a few minutes to make sure that it can melt. Try not to stir it often but if some of it is not melting, use a fork or chopstick to push that piece down.

  6. 6

    Once it has all melted, lightly grease the tray, pour the chocolate in, and then chill it in the fridge for a few hours.

  7. 7

    Once they are done, you should just be able to pop them out of the tray. Simply place them in the little bags and then you are set to give them away!

  8. 8

    Optional: if you are using while chocolate, you can use food coloring to get cute colors such as red, yellow, purple, blue etc. Simply add the food coloring in after the chocolate has melted and you have taken the mug out of the pan.

  9. 9

    Optional: You can also work in nuts such as almonds, nuts, walnuts and more. Just be sure that they are small enough to fit in your tray and be covered completely in chocolate. You may need to break them into small pieces. If that happens, just use a ziplock bag and a rolling pin or spoon. Put the nuts in before you add the chocolate and you will be fine!

(Note: Steam can burn you. Make sure to be careful and not get hurt. Use oven mittens as you see fit and NEVER grab the mug with your bare hands after you heat it up. )

Yum!

Final Thought

This is simple, fun, and anyone can enjoy it! Now, your giri choco is ready to be given away as you need to! You just need a little patience to melt down the chocolate and design it how you want. You can find countless molds in stores and online if you want more creativity. Are you going to be giving chocolate for Valentine’s Day? Honey-chan is already setting up her kitchen so let us know what you have in the wings for this day! Will you kokuhaku suru (confess)?
Anime-Recipes-Giri-Choco-from-Kimi-ni-Todoke-Capture-2-500x500 [Anime Culture Monday] Anime Recipes: Giri Choco from Kimi ni Todoke

Editor/Translator

Author: Nagareboshi

American by birth; international by choice. I am trying to bring attention to one of my favorite causes; me. I translate by day and write by night. Aspiring polyglot. My dream would be to be the personal translator for Amuro Namie. Other than that, my hobbies include languages, weightlifting, sleeping, karaoke, GOOD coffee and music. When I’m not doing any of the above, I am most likely laughing hysterically at Willam Belli videos or EV farming. I ain’t gunna Rupologize for it neither. Waifu are Shirai Kuroko & Euaerin.

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