Foods that say ‘I love you’ around the world
If your partner loves marzipan, marshmallows or just a big bottle of wine, these love-inspired foods from around the world could make a great Valentine’s gift. Whether you spend weeks planning the perfect gift or you tend to dash into the supermarket on the way home, finding a unique way to say "I love you" on Valentine’s Day is, for many, a challenge. You won't be surprised that we at BBC Food espouse the "way to a person’s heart is through their stomach" approach. After a card, the two most common Valentine's gifts are food, with statistics showing chocolates and a meal out are the most popular way Brits show they care. Frankly, why bother with a card when you can give (and share) a batch of chocolate truffles or a gorgeous dinner for two? But if you're looking for some original ideas, tap into these romantic traditions around the world: from Saint Dionysus (Sant Donis) Day in Valencia, to the Week of Sweetness in Argentina, there's plenty of inspiration to be had for showing (and eating) your feelings. Will these foods win your true love's heart? Marzipan fruits and more October 9 is a busy day in Valencia. Not only is it National Day of Valencia, it’s also Sant Donis Day, the patron saint of Valencian lovers. Marzipan sweets in the form of fruits and vegetables called mocadorà are given wrapped in or alongside a silk handkerchief, or ‘mocador’. As well as a colourful marzipan 5-a-day, marzipan-filled pastries called piuleta y tronador, representing male and female genitalia, are included in this goody bag. (They are a far cry from what you'd encounter at a hen-do. It's all very, er, tasteful.) Mocadorà are given by men to their wives, girlfriends, or even mothers. So, if the apple of your eye is the type to snaffle the outside of the Christmas cake and leave the cake behind, this could be the gift for them. If you aren't into hand-painting and moulding marzipan fruits, may we recommend the Hairy Bikers' Chocolate tart with marzipan balls? Yes, we know it serves 6, but that's three whole days of love! Or you could take some to your mother. Lebkuchen Valentine’s Day is a popular time in Germany to show your one true love how much you care with lebkuchen. Not just the little Christmas ones, but giant heart-shaped ginger biscuits beautifully decorated with a space in the middle to write (in icing) a personalised message. A sweet heart for your sweetheart. If you like the idea of Love Hearts sweets more than the sweets themselves, you could pen your own cheeky message on homemade lebkuchen. (Sorry, we don't know what "lush lips" is in German.) Or make a batch of small ones in heart shapes covered in chocolate and red heart sprinkles. Related stories Is your diet destroying your libido?Only true chocoholics can complete this tricky quiz!Can food improve your sex life? Is your diet destroying your libido? Only true chocoholics can complete this tricky quiz! Can food improve your sex life? White chocolate and marshmallows Japan has its own interesting take on Valentine’s Day. On February 14, it’s traditionally just women who give chocolate. As well as honmei choco, chocolate gifted as a sign of love, women are traditionally expected to give giri choco, which translates as ‘obligation chocolate’, to male colleagues, friends and family members. A month later, on March 14, it’s White Day when men give gifts in return. In fact, if you are a man who has been given chocolate, you’re meant to respond with a present which is worth more than the value of what you were given. Traditionally this would be marshmallows or white chocolate for White Day, but now includes other gifts. The practice may be declining as more women choose to give chocolates selectively out of affection rather than obligation. If chocolate and marshmallow is your thing, try Paul Hollywood's completely moreish chocolate marshmallow teacakes. Chocolate whoopie pies with a marshmallow filling seem appropriate for Valentine's Day, and Nigella's rocky road will be no obligation to make. Wine Are you drunk in love? Well, head to Bulgaria for Valentine's Day and you can be tipsy on romance and alcohol as the day doubles up as a celebration of the country’s patron saint of vineyards, Trifon Zarezan. Winemakers and those in the local community come together to celebrate with a feast and a ceremony, similar to the English wassail, where wine is poured on the vines. The local winemaker who’s had the most success is given a crown of vines and named King of the Vineyard. Everyone visits each other's houses to celebrate and wine is, of course, consumed. Valentine’s Day is also celebrated in the usual way, where couples may go for dinner and perhaps wine plays a part. But if you’re footloose and fancy free, you might join up with friends for the Trifon Zarezan celebrations for a glass or two. Or three. Why not combine the two events by cooking a wine-infused recipe? Red wine poached pears have the wow factor, while this coq au vin is the perfect cosy night in. A really good bottle never goes amiss either. Sweets Relatively new on the scene comes Argentina’s Week of Sweetness, which started in 1989 as a marketing ploy by a sweet company who used the slogan “a candy for a kiss”. Now, more than 30 years on and the first week of July is still big for sweets and kisses. Perhaps we should re-think the whole mistletoe thing at Christmas and have sweets instead. Which sweets to opt for? Well, that depends on your Valentine! Still with your first love? Celebrate they’re your childhood sweetheart with the very nostalgic coconut ice. Want to show someone they are flawless? Try this perfect by name, perfect by nature, perfect Scottish tablet. Switch flowers for rose-scented sweets like these coconut rose ladoos. Not only are they lovely bold colours, they also taste delicious. Black day noodles Hate Valentine’s? Think it’s just for smug couples? Proud to be single and not looking to mingle? Then this unofficial holiday is for you. Like Japan, South Korea celebrates Valentine’s and White Day. Then a month later, on April 14, it’s the turn for single people to celebrate by meeting up with other single friends and family members and slurping down jajangmyeon – a dish of noodles in a black bean sauce. While it was originally seen as a day to commemorate being single and not receiving any gifts on Valentine’s or White Day, over recent years it has been turned on its head and seen as a day to celebrate being single. Friends? Noodles? What’s not to love? For a super quick noodle and black bean sauce dish, you could try this pork noodle with bean sauce recipe. Or alternatively there are no shortage of authentic Korean recipes you could give a go. Originally published February 2022