However, if you really think about it, what really makes chocolate the best Valentine’s Day gift? Why do couples, lovers, friends, and partners exchange chocolates with each other on February 14th so regularly, and why is it such a special gift to give? Well, a few ideas come to mind.


First of all, chocolate is sweet and rich. Maybe we subconsciously compare it to our romantic interest in another person because we also view this relationship as “sweet” and “rich”. Perhaps love is to our hearts what chocolate is to our mouths and taste buds. Or maybe the company of that sweet someone in our own life reminds us a lot of what chocolate does to our inner psyche as it goes down out throats. It is savory, sweet, and intoxicating.

Chocolates come in so many different forms whether it's valentine hearts, chocolate foil hearts or even a box of chocolates. A box of chocolates can have many meanings. It can say “I love you”. It can say “thank you for being my best friend”. It can say “you are precious beyond words to me”. It can say “I’m sorry, please forgive me”. Or, it can even say “please, know that I cannot live another moment without you”. Regardless of what you are saying, one thing can be sure… and this is that a box of chocolates is a way to say it that can be understood by anyone. So whether they are chocolate covered cherries, scrumptious caramels, or delightful dark chocolates, always remember why chocolates are the best gift for Valentine’s Day… because they show that you care.

Recommended Chocolatiers: Hotel Chocolat and Chocolate Trading Company

5) Cadbury Chocolate.

Cadbury chocolate isn't the most expensive or the best quality, however, it does have a great brand appeal. As well, Cadbury is very good at creating specialized packaging for her or him so you can a specially wrapped valentine's package.

4) Chocolate, Candy and Sweet Hamper

Why not build your own hamper that is specifically designed with her or his favorite chocolates. Simply visit First 4 Hampers or HampersGifts.co.uk and select the items you want in your Hamper. Simple, easy and delicious!

3) A bundle of candy for him or her.

For Her - A stunning, beautifully printed (specially for us), thick cardboard box brimming with our most romantic sweets ever. Guaranteed to melt her heart! See the For Her Candy Bundle Here

For Him - A stunning thick cardboard box brimming with our most romantic (in a blokey kind of way) sweets ever. It'll bring out the child in him, as well as making him realise just how much you think the world of him! See the For Him Candy Bundle Here

2) Chocolates From Chocolate Trading Company

Chocolate Trading Company is the largest independent online chocolate shop in the UK, specialising in the finest chocolates from around the world. Everyone knows that the chocolate from Chocolate Trading Company is top notch, high quality and most importantly very delicious!

Chocolate Trading Company

1) Hotel Chocolate Tasting Club.

Get them the present of chocolate all year round, buy a year membership to the Hotel Chocolat Tasting Club. They will get a delicious sample of chocolates delivered to their door each month choose between a solid, dark or classic as the first selection that you can give her/him on Valentine's day. This is the gift that will be remembered throughout the whole year!

The Hotel Chocolat Tasting Club is basically a monthly subscription to a chocolates. For a low monthly fee you'll get an introductory selection of chocolates, which is perfect to give on Valentine's Day. You get a choice of the Classic Selection, Dark Selection or Solid Selection.

Now for the rest of the year you'll receive a monthly selection of chocolates. These are specialty chocolates of the highest quality and taste. You'll be given a tasting menu which describes all the chocolates in your selection and what you should be tasting. You can even 'score' the chocolates based on certain criteria to give your feedback.

A one year membership for your significant other is £180. This may be a little high but it is the perfect gift because each month they will have a reminder that you thought of them and planned accordingly on Valentine's Day!

Join The Hotel Chocolat Tasting Club Now!

The idea of the party is that you pay a certain price (usually 100-200 quid).  The merchant will bring over an assortment of chocolate and wine.  Than you and your lady will have a chance to sample the chocolate, wine and the pairings. This is a great way to show her that you want to spend the day with her AND give her chocolate.  This is really the best of both worlds!

The chocolate tasting will usually tell you to try a certain chocolate and will tell you what you should be tasting.  These chocolates will be of the highest quality and should be delightful to taste!

If you're in a smaller center than this might not be availble to you.  In this case consider joining (or signing her up) the Hotel Chocolat Tasting Club.  The tasting club is an assortment of chocolates delivered to your house monthly for a small fee.  It's a great gift that keeps on giving!

• Simply buy some good quality chocolate.  We recommend chocolate from Chocolate Trading Company or Hotel Chocolat.
• Break the bar into many pieces or pour the package into a bowl.
• Pour in a cup of cream
• Heat until melted on the stove.  Stir continually. Don't overcook.  Don't burn it.
• Stick it in the fridge for 2 hours (or until cool)

Now scoop chocolate with a spoon and roll in your coating of choice.  We recommend cocoa powder, coconut, almond powder or any other tasty substance of your choice!

If you don't think you can handle that then you can always order chocolate at Chocolate Trading Company or Hotel Chocolat

Go to zChocolat.com and buy her a chocolate box as seen in the picture(£30 - £100).  The chocolate boxes at zChocolat.com come in a wooden box rather then a cardboard or paper box.

Now buy her a little piece of jewelery that she'll like.  If you don't know what kind of jewelery to buy her but still want to get something then simple diamond stud earings are recommend. Otherwise try to consider her tastes.  Does she like hoop earings?  Does she like Pendants?   You decided upon the jewelery.   Also refer to our Buying Jewelery Online guide for tips on buying online.

Now you take the piece of jewelery out of the box and hide it inside the Chocolate box (preferably near the back of the chocolate box).

Now she will spend the time eating the chocolate and enjoying them thinking that was her present.  Now in a day or two she will find the jewelery and will be thrilled that you hid a gift inside for her.  Make sure that you don't let her take the box to work or a friends house as you don't want the jewelery to go missing.

Note: this idea can work on simpler scale using any box of chocolates.  However, in this case the jewelery must be hidden underneath the chocolates.   As well, it's very difficult to make the box of chocolates look 'un-opened' in this case.

Recommended Chocolatiers: zChocolat.com or Chocolate Trading Company.

Recommended Jewelers: My Diamonds or Christopher Ward London Limited

Cadbury Chocolates

Cadbury Gifts Direct is a well known brand who sells higher end lower quality chocolates. What does this mean exactly? It means you can find Cadbury chocolates besides other candy bars at your local supermarket and at this supermarket it's probably the higher end chocolate.

Cadbury Chocolates, although tasty, are NOT recommended for Valentine's day. Your significant other will think that you didn't spend the time to get some nice chocolates. If Cadbury chocolates are his/her favorite then of course Cadbury Chocolates are fine.

Hotel Chocolat

Hotel Chocolat is a Luxury chocolate manufacturer in Britain. Hotel Chocolat is a well known brand in the UK having over 33 shops and a large online pressence. You can find anything from Chocolate slabs and liquid chocolate to Dark Chocolate Recipes.

ZChocolat

zChocolat.com in the UK is a lesser known brand of chocolate. This is because ZChocolate is based out of France and this means GOOD chocolate. One of the unique things about this chocolatier is many of their chocolates come in wooden boxes. This allows your valentine to have a special souvenir for after Valentine's Day.

Chocolate Trading Company

Chocolate Trading Company is the largest online chocolatier in the UK. They specialize in the finest luxury chocolates from around the world. Their large selection of chocolate boxes allows you to pick the chocolate box for the right occasion. Chocolate Trading Company will NOT disappoint on Valentine's Day.

Discount Code: CTJA06 - Valid to get 6% off your order!

Whatever chocolatier that you decide to go with make sure that you buy something that your valentine will enjoy. Remember it's her (or his) day not yours so if she likes truffles and you like caramel go with truffles.

You'll need to buy the following things:

A Chocolate Fountain - Home Chocolate Fountains range in size up to about 19" tall. They are primarily made of plastic and may have some stainless steel components (although all-stainless models do exist) and are usually dishwasher safe. Home chocolate fountains normally hold 6 or less pounds of chocolate.

Chocolate - It is imperative that you buy Couverture Chocolate to get the correct flow of the chocolate. Most chocolate fountains will come with a pack of the specialty chocolate or the chocolate shop will recommend the correct chocolate for your fountain.

Recommended Chocolatiers: zChocolat or Chocolate Trading Company

Fruit - The fruit you want to create an assortment of fruit cut into approximately 2-3 cm cubes. Some good fruit to consider is Strawberries, Banana's, Kiwi's and Oranges.

Now you simply cut up the fruit the day before and follow the instructions on the chocolate fountain to make your chocolate flow!

Cost:
Chocolate Fountain: £ 49.95
Chocolate: £ 8.5
Fruit: £ 10 (approximately)

Total Cost: £ 68.95