For time immortal, Valentine’s Day and chocolate have been synonymous. What spells “I love you” any better than a box of melt-in-your mouth chocolates? Where the confusion arises, however, is in what brand of packaged chocolates is best to buy for your loved one. Do you go with the sweet, milky flavor of the All-American Russell-Stover, or do you think the silky, bittersweet taste of Ghirardelli or Lindt would be the better Valentine chocolate choice? The answer lies in the taste buds of your beloved.
How to Select the Best Valentine Chocolate
For those who prefer a sweet, not-overly-chocolaty experience, it’s best to gift them with an American-made chocolate. American chocolates are generally sweeter than their Belgian and European counterparts, containing less cocoa butter and more milk solids and sugar. Here are two quality brands that fall in this category.
Check out our tips for selecting the best #Valentine #chocolates for your sweetheart.
Great Valentine Chocolate Options
We’ve included some great chocolate brands that are sure to work for most budgets and tastes. After all, you never know which chocolate will be someone’s best friend. Or you could make them some of our yummy White Chocolate Covered Oreo Roses, or maybe our Chocolate Mocha Bundt Cake would be a delight.
Russell Stover
Russell Stover chocolates are made with milk chocolate unless otherwise stated on the packaging, and their chocolates tend to be smoother than some other American chocolate products. Their company also includes chocolates under the Whitman’s and Pagburn’s brand labels.
Hershey’s
Hershey’s – Hershey’s chocolates, as a whole, contain even more sugar than the Russell-Stover candies. Some of the new Hershey’s Bliss filled chocolates are a perfect example of the milky sweetness Hershey’s provides.
Some individuals prefer a more robust, slightly bitter chocolate flavor. In that case, Belgian or European chocolates are probably more suitable for their personal preferences, as these types major on cocoa butter and dutched cocoa and generally go leaner on the sugar and milk solids. Three common brands come to the forefront.
Dove
While the Dove Corporation is located in the United States, their chocolates are made in the European tradition of a stronger chocolate flavor paired with an extra dose of creamy cocoa butter. As a result their products are chocolaty, smooth, and powerful.
Godiva
These Belgian chocolates are on average a little stronger than Dove, but not as strong as Ghirardelli. The array of chocolates available from Godiva is dizzying, but it’s hard to make a wrong choice if the person you’re buying for is a serious chocolate fan, especially for valentine chocolate.
Ghirardelli and Lindt
You’ll find that both Ghirardelli and Lindt possess the most intense chocolate flavor of these three brands, often introducing a bit of bitterness into their chocolate. Their dark chocolate gift assortments are legendary for their silky texture and forceful chocolate flavor.
Pinpointing the chocolate flavor that your beloved enjoys will enable you give the perfect Valentine chocolate gift that truly expresses your love and affection to your very special person.
And if you decide to make a special chocolate treat for your Valentine, you may enjoy some of our recipes. Our chocolate mocha bundt cake is always a hit, especially with its coffee pour over topping. Delish!
If you want to have fun making something together, you can always make a yummy edible arrangement with our recipe for chocolate covered Oreo roses.
Don’t forget to set the mood! If you’re making dinner for your Valentine, check out our tips for how to set a romantic dinner table.
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