Chocolate Santas in marzipan masks: A coronavirus Christmas in Hungary

Hungary, November 21

When confectioner Laszlo Rimoczi determined to place masks on his chocolate Santas in his small workshop in rural Hungary, he meant it as a light-hearted joke to lift individuals’s spirits amid a worsening coronavirus pandemic.

But it turned out to be a shrewd enterprise transfer as orders surged on-line, and now he can hardly preserve tempo with demand.

“I think by the time Santa comes he will have to wear a mask because Santa has to show a good example to people,” Rimoczi mentioned, sitting in his workshop within the yard of his village house in Lajosmizse, about 70 kilometres south of Budapest.

To sustain with orders, he has needed to simplify the design and now produces about 100 Santas a day, utilizing gluten-free Italian chocolate. He paints the hat crimson, and makes the masks from tiny white marzipan strips, including the ribbons with icing.

Rimoczi has even needed to change the design of his greater chocolate Santas, which initially got here with out masks.

“They were wrapped, but we had to unwrap them and give them masks as our customers now only want masked Santas,” he mentioned.

His girlfriend helps with the wrapping.

Rimoczi’s enterprise—he additionally makes different chocolate treats and sells them in a small store in his home—suffered losses because the pandemic hit in March.

While the masked Santas have been a lift, he would not anticipate it to final if vaccines assist the world defeat the pandemic.

“I am sure next year I will sell only a fraction of these, as Santas will no longer have to wear a mask,” he mentioned with a smile. — Reuters