Selecting the perfect chocolate gift can be a delightful yet challenging endeavor. In our quest to identify truly exceptional chocolate gifts, we sampled a range of offerings, from luxurious assortments to vegan selections. Our aim was to discover the Best Chocolate Gifts available, but our tasting journey revealed that many fell short of expectations.
We began with Chocolat Moderne’s Mixe Moderne Box, a New York City creation presented in an elegant quilted box. While the presentation was promising, our team had mixed reactions. The primary concerns revolved around the chocolate shells, which were deemed too thick, and the fillings, which leaned towards excessive sweetness. Despite these drawbacks, we noted Chocolat Moderne’s vegan options, including their vegan selection and gift basket, as potentially more commendable choices.
Moving on, the Videri Bonbon Box presented a varied assortment of 16 chocolates. The experience ranged from unremarkable to mildly enjoyable. A gingerbread caramel flavor stood out, capturing a pleasant spiced warmth. However, a sorghum filling, intended as a tribute to Videri’s North Carolina heritage, was considered overpowering. One of our tasters, a Raleigh native, suggested this box might appeal specifically to those with North Carolinian roots, highlighting its niche appeal rather than broad “best chocolate gifts” status.
The Feve Assorted Chocolates caught our attention with their visually striking colors and vibrant flavor descriptions, reminiscent of Melissa Coppel and Stick With Me Sweets. Flavors like yuzu and strawberry-lemon promised an exciting tasting experience. Unfortunately, similar to their visual flashiness, the flavors were muted, and the chocolate coatings were disappointingly thick, overshadowing any potential for these to be considered among the best chocolate gifts.
Arrowhead Chocolates’ Deluxe Arrowhead Assortment, boasting multiple Good Food Awards and traditional fillings, initially sparked optimism. The first piece we sampled—a chocolate-coated honeycomb reminiscent of perfectly toasted marshmallows—demonstrated considerable promise. However, subsequent pieces in the box were stale, unfortunately disqualifying this assortment from contention as a top chocolate gift.
The appearance of Exquisito Chocolates’ Artisan Collection was marred by dusty and battered-looking chocolate coatings. While the flavor concepts sounded intriguing on paper, the reality was underwhelming. The fillings were bland, and the chocolate coatings had an undesirable waxy texture, further removing them from the best chocolate gifts category.
Michel Cluizel Chocolate Truffle Milk & Dark, previously an alternate pick in our guide, also failed to impress in our 2022 tasting. These truffles were found to be overly sweet, and some tasted stale, a significant decline from their previous standing and far from the quality expected in best chocolate gifts.
Christopher Elbow Chocolates, our former top pick in 2014, have also lost their luster. While undeniably beautiful, resembling miniature jewels, the chocolates now come across as excessively sweet with overpowering flavors. Despite their aesthetic appeal, more compelling chocolate options have surpassed them, pushing them out of the running for top recommendations.
Fran’s Gray & Smoked Salt Caramels, rumored to be favored by Barack Obama, were tested next. While pleasant, they didn’t resonate strongly enough to be ranked among our preferred choices. The caramels were on the sweeter side and carried a slightly burnt taste, preventing them from achieving “best chocolate gifts” status in our evaluation.
The Woodhouse Chocolate Traditional Assortment from Napa Valley, California, also did not leave a significant impression. These bonbons, presented in natural chocolate shades and nestled in a robin’s-egg-blue box, were deemed unremarkable and not particularly memorable as standout chocolate gifts.
John & Kira’s Every Flavor Chocolates were noted for their strong flavors but ultimately considered quite boring. The uniformity in shape, size, and texture across the assortment, with only the ganache fillings differing, contributed to a monotonous experience, diminishing their appeal as exciting chocolate gifts.
We found the packaging of the Neuhaus Classic Ballotin more captivating than the chocolates themselves. The shells were too thick, and the fillings were sugary and average, failing to elevate them above commonplace chocolate offerings.
Jacques Torres Chocolate’s Assorted Bonbons box was visually appealing, and the truffles and filled chocolates were attractively presented. However, the chocolate itself lacked complexity, and the flavor faded quickly, preventing this assortment from being a top recommendation for chocolate connoisseurs.
The Vosges Exotic Truffle Collection, known for its bacon bar, ventured into quirky flavor combinations like wasabi with black sesame and Taleggio cheese with walnuts. These unusual combinations were not universally well-received, indicating that while adventurous, they may not cater to a broad audience seeking classic “best chocolate gifts.”
The Kate Weiser Chocolate Artist Collection lived up to its name in visual artistry. Each bonbon was a brightly colored canvas. Despite the ambitious look and flavors, the chocolate casings were too thick and overshadowed the fillings, hindering the overall balance and enjoyment.
Our hopes were high for the Compartès Vegan Dark Chocolate Assortment Gift Box, a collection of chocolate-covered dried fruits and nut clusters. However, many pieces were excessively large, and the fruit lacked succulence. The Compartès Vegan Chocolate Truffles 20-Piece Gift also disappointed with muted flavors and an odd aftertaste, suggesting their vegan line may not be the best avenue for exceptional chocolate gifts.
The No Whey Everything Good Collection, a nut-free, allergen-free option, ultimately suffered from overly perfume-y flavors and a waxy chocolate texture. These characteristics detracted from the experience and placed them outside the realm of desirable chocolate gifts.
The Godiva Dark Chocolate Gift Box, a popular choice, surfaced in our reader comments. While a nostalgic favorite for some, the quality has reportedly declined over time. We concluded that these chocolates would not compete with our top selections, lacking the refinement and superior taste expected in best chocolate gifts.
John Kelly Chocolates 12 Piece Signature Handcrafted Chocolate Collection presented intimidatingly large candies, each about half the size of a Snickers bar. The fillings were predominantly cloying, thick, and pasty, akin to old-fashioned fudge. While the company accurately describes them as “truffle fudge,” this style may not align with everyone’s idea of premium chocolate gifts.
The See’s Assorted Chocolates box, previously considered a value pick, features larger pieces, often requiring two bites. While possibly nostalgic for some, and better than Russell Stover, this assortment cannot compete with more boutique chocolates in terms of quality and sophistication for discerning gift-givers.
Finally, Russell Stover and Whitman’s received low scores from our panelists, who found them tasting artificial and generally disliked them. These brands represent the lower end of the spectrum and are certainly not recommended as best chocolate gifts.
In conclusion, our extensive tasting revealed that the quest for the best chocolate gifts is more challenging than anticipated. Many brands, despite appealing packaging or creative flavors, fell short due to issues with chocolate quality, texture, flavor balance, or freshness. When selecting chocolate gifts, it is crucial to look beyond appearances and consider reviews and detailed descriptions to ensure you are giving a truly exceptional chocolate experience.
