Geisha

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GEISHA -chocolate

Update -the story of Geisha

A small update to the previous post. I found an article on the birth of Geisha chocolate on Fazer’s website.

The story of Geisha chocolate began with a Japonica pastry that Peter Fazer (the grandson of Karl Fazer) fell in love with at Fazer cafe in 60s. He asked product development to try Japonica pastry’s japonais filling along with milk chocolate – and soon (1962) the recipe for success was ready!

Fazer bars ”little good” -commercial.

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”The Geisha name and pink color were borrowed for the product from the caramel of the Fazer’s best bag, which was renamed Tokyo. Japan served as the inspiration for the new product at that time through the Tokyo Olympics, in which Peter Fazer himself participated in the sport of sailing.

The word Geisha means artist. ”Gei” means skill and ”sha” means knowledgeable person. Geisha embodies the depth of oriental mysticism, strives deeper than the surface, and leaves a mark on Japanese culture.”

Source: Fazer.fi

So there’s the original story of Geisha -chocolate. Also I have read that it was a big Japan boom in Finland in 60’s.

In the previous post, I mentioned Karl Fazer’s admiration for the Japanese culture as a part of the birth of Geisha -chocolate but after reading this text, I realised there is much more behind this fine and traditional chocolate!

So Karl Fazer did not develop itself this chocolate, it was done by his grandson but Geisha name was used as a candy (as mentioned above). This was presumably the result of Karl Fazer’s admiration for Japanese culture.

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FAZER *Geisha*

A bit of Fazer’s background

Finnish brand Fazer, known around the world for its chocolate, was founded by Karl Fazer in 1891 when the first cafe-confectionery to bear his name, was founded Kluuvikatu, in the center of Helsinki. Since then, Fazer cafés have become a permanent part of Helsinki’s cultural life.

Today Fazer has operations in eight countries and exporting to more than 40 countries. In addition to Finland, the company operates in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Russia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The company manufactures bakery, biscuit and confectionery products and has a restaurant and café business. Fazer has 19 bakeries in Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Russia, Latvia and Lithuania.

The oldest, still for sale, popular Fazer sweets are Rowan Marmalades, which have been made since 1895.

Source: Wikipedia

According to Gen Takagi Geisha is a good name for this chocolate brand.

Another well-known Fazer product is Geisha-chocolate which is also one of my favorites. The traditional Geisha is milk chocolate which contains a lovely hazelnut nougat filling (although later the geisha family has grown with few new variations).

There has been a recent debate as to whether the name Geisha is appropriate or not. After all, the name arose from the fact that Karl Fazer had visited Japan and fell in love with their culture. I think the name is a tribute to Japanese culture, like Japanese youtuber Ken Takagi says in his video. He also says that the Japanese are happy to buy it as homecoming gift. If the name changes as planned, will it no longer interest them as much? However, many Japanese people visit in Finland. The product has been known by that name for so long that it would no longer be the same product under the new name. Or atleast it would not evoke that same temptation and sense of familiarity, especially among tourists. So I don’t think the name should be changed under any circumstances!

Fazer- Geisha
Newer Geisha product.

Sininen unelma

Unelmoin sinisestä, Suomen luonnosta, taivaasta pilvettömästä, järvimaisemasta.

Samettisen pehmeästä, kauniista ja kuultavasta. Hetkestä sinisestä, äärellä rannan.

*copyright*

Translate:

Blue dream

I dream of a blue, Finnish nature, a sky without clouds, a lake landscape.

Velvety soft, beautiful and audible. For a moment in the blue, by the lake.

Can you see the same as I? Some girl (or why not boy but I see girl)…sitting by the lake surrounded by rugged forest on beautiful summer day, a little bit before sun setting…

You can find this poem also here:

https://tanssitytto.wordpress.com/2018/08/21/parhaat-runot-my-best-poems-in-finnish/