Gourmet chocolate gifts are perfect for any time of year. But for Valentines Day, gifts of gourmet chocolate are especially delightful.
And thankfully, there are some health benefits to eating chocolate. Although chocolate isn't exactly low in calories, dark chocolate is rich in flavanoids, which can promote heart health. Woo hoo!
Plus, many of the artisan gourmet chocolates are so expensive and exquisitely packaged, it's hard to overindulge. Here are some of my favorite gourmet chocolate gifts for Valentine's Day:
1) Christopher Norman Hand-Painted Luxury Tea Collection ($45)
Almost too gorgeous to eat, these gourmet chocolate truffles are flavored with a variety of teas, then enrobed in dark chocolate and hand-painted. If you're looking for a gourmet chocolate gift that makes a statement, this is it.
2) Schokinag Extreme Dark Drinking Chocolate ($12.95)
There's hot chocolate and there's drinking chocolate. Artisan chocolate-maker Schokinag makes gourmet drinking chocolate, and in my mind, there's no comparison. Rather than powdered cocoa, drinking chocolate is actually made from tiny little chocolate nibs. Schokinag hot chocolate is easy to make in the microwave and comes in a variety of flavors from Extreme Dark (my favorite) to White Chocolate.
3) Vere Good Chocolate Hearts ($4-$45)
Sold by the piece, these dark chocolate hearts are made from 75% cacao and topped with your choice of raspberry powder, toasted organic coconut, or organic figs and fennel seeds. You can also get them in a Valentine gift box with a 16-piece collection of raspberry truffles.
4) Recchiuti's Champagne Truffles ($18)
Dark chocolate truffles are scented with 2001 Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs from Napa Valley and finished with a dusting of powdered sugar. The presentation -- a bed of snowy truffles nestled in a red box -- is gorgeous. I also recommend the Key Lime Apples. Twelve crisp apples are enrobed in rich dark chocolate for a perfect sweet and crisp combination any time.
5) Vosges Red Fire Chocolate-Covered Tortilla Chips ($20)
A divine combination of sweet and salty! Organic corn tortilla chips are covered with milk chocolate, then dusted with ancho and chipotle chili powders. It's a treat they won't soon forget.
6) MarieBelle Blue and Brown Box ($36)
This 16-piece box of artisan chocolates from the famed New York chocolatier features an exquisite assortment of flavors like Earl Grey Tea, Champagne, Passion Fruit, Raspberry Coconut, Lemon Milk and more.
7) SugarDaddy's Sumptuous Sweeties Signature 8 Bag ($50)
Eight delicious "sweeties" (SugarDaddy's delectable 3" brownies) wrapped in a luxurious silk bag and satin ribbon. Choose from a delicious collection of flavors, including Dark Berry, Rich Mint, Strawberry, Tahiti, and more.
8) Diva Chocolates Grilling Rubs ($21.95)
Enjoy chocolate for dinner or on your vegetables with this four-tin set of chocolate grilling rubs. The flavors include Mocha Java, Orange Chocolate, Spicy Cocoa and Kickin' Chocolate.
9) Norman Love Confections 18-Piece box ($34)
With flavors like Dark Chocolate Mojito, White Chocolate Mimosa, Pistachio Truffles and Milk Chocolate Java Fudge, these chocolates are not only unique in flavor, they're beautifully presented, too.
10) Jacques Torres Chocolate-Covered Cheerios ($5)
It's a bargain price, but the taste is far from low-brow. The famed chocolatier has a wonderful collection of truffles and assortments for Valentine's Day, but I think the flavor combination of chocolate and Cheerios is exceptional. Try it and let me know if you agree.
Prefer to make your own gourmet chocolate gifts for Valentine's Day? Try this recipe for chocolate covered strawberries.
