Boxed chocolates are a classic and timeless gift, perfect for expressing appreciation, celebrating special occasions, or simply indulging someone with a sweet treat. However, with a vast array of options available, choosing the perfect box of chocolates can be overwhelming. This guide dives into a variety of boxed chocolates, offering insights to help you select the ideal gift for any chocolate lover.
In recent taste tests, numerous brands of boxed chocolates were evaluated based on flavor, texture, and overall quality. While some stood out for their exceptional taste and presentation, others fell short due to various issues like overly thick shells, bland fillings, or staleness. Understanding these nuances can be crucial in making a thoughtful and impressive gift choice.
One brand that garnered mixed reactions was Chocolat Moderne’s Mixe Moderne Box. Housed in a luxurious brown quilted box, these dark and milk chocolates presented well. However, critiques focused on the thick chocolate shells and overly sweet centers. Despite these drawbacks, their vegan selection and vegan gift basket were enthusiastically recommended, suggesting a strength in their plant-based offerings.
Moving to Videri Bonbon Box, the 16 chocolates offered a range from unremarkable to enjoyable. The gingerbread caramel flavor was praised for its warm, spiced notes, while the sorghum filling, intended to reflect North Carolina roots, was considered overpowering. Interestingly, a taster from Raleigh suggested this box could be a thoughtful gift specifically for someone from North Carolina, highlighting the importance of considering the recipient’s preferences and background.
The Feve Assorted Chocolates were visually striking with flashy colors and vibrant-sounding flavors like yuzu and strawberry-lemon, reminiscent of Melissa Coppel and Stick With Me Sweets. Despite the appealing presentation, the fillings were found to be muted, and the chocolate coatings were too thick, detracting from the overall experience.
Arrowhead Chocolates’ Deluxe Arrowhead Assortment, distinguished by multiple Good Food Awards and traditional-style fillings, initially showed promise. The chocolate-coated honeycomb, likened to the best toasted marshmallows, was a standout. However, inconsistency in quality emerged as another piece in the box was found to be stale, unfortunately diminishing the overall positive impression.
Exquisito Chocolates’ Artisan Collection presented flavors that sounded exciting in theory. Yet, the chocolates themselves suffered from a dusty and battered appearance on some coatings. Furthermore, the fillings were reported as bland, and the coatings had an undesirable waxy texture, hindering the enjoyment of these artisan chocolates.
Michel Cluizel Chocolate Truffle Milk & Dark, previously an alternate pick in a guide, did not fare as well in a recent tasting. The chocolates were described as overly sweet, and some tasted stale, indicating a potential decline in quality or freshness compared to earlier assessments.
Christopher Elbow Chocolates, a former top pick from 2014, also faced similar issues in subsequent tastings. While undeniably beautiful, resembling baubles and jewels, the chocolates were criticized for being too sweet and having flavors that felt heavy-handed. These once top-rated chocolates were surpassed by more compelling options, highlighting the evolving landscape of gourmet boxed chocolates.
Fran’s Gray & Smoked Salt Caramels, rumored to be a favorite of Barack Obama, were considered pleasant but not exceptional enough to rank among the top choices. The candies were noted to be on the sweet side and carried a slightly burnt taste, preventing them from reaching the highest echelons of boxed chocolate gifts.
Woodhouse Chocolate Traditional Assortment, from Napa Valley, California, failed to leave a significant impression. The bonbons, presented in natural chocolate shades of brown and white and nestled in a robin’s-egg-blue box, possessed an understated elegance but lacked the flavor complexity to stand out.
John & Kira’s Every Flavor Chocolates were described as flavor-forward but ultimately boring. The uniformity in shape, size, and texture across the assortment, with only the ganache filling varying, led to a monotonous tasting experience despite the diverse flavor profiles.
Neuhaus Classic Ballotin‘s packaging was found to be more appealing than the chocolates themselves. The shells were too thick, and the fillings were sugary and average, suggesting that the brand’s focus might be more on presentation than substance in this particular offering.
Jacques Torres Chocolate’s Assorted Bonbons offered a visually attractive box with truffles and filled chocolates. The assortment included pralines, ganaches, and caramels. However, the chocolate itself was criticized for lacking complexity, and the flavor was short-lived, failing to provide a lasting impression.
Vosges Exotic Truffle Collection is known for including a bacon bar, which has a dedicated following. However, the more adventurous chocolates with fillings like wasabi with black sesame and Taleggio cheese with walnuts were not as well-received, indicating that the brand’s quirky flavor combinations might be divisive.
The Kate Weiser Chocolate Artist Collection lives up to its name with each bonbon decorated as a multicolored, Jackson Pollock-esque splatter. Despite the artistic appearance and ambitious flavors, the chocolate casings were too thick and overwhelmed the fillings, suggesting a possible imbalance between visual appeal and taste.
Compartès Vegan Dark Chocolate Assortment Gift Box promised a rich selection of chocolate-covered dried fruits and nut clusters. Unfortunately, many pieces were overwhelmingly large, and the fruit lacked succulence. Similarly, the Compartès Vegan Chocolate Truffles 20-Piece Gift suffered from muted flavors and an unusual aftertaste, indicating challenges in their vegan chocolate formulations within boxed gifts.
No Whey Everything Good Collection, a nut-free and allergen-free option, aimed to cater to specific dietary needs. However, the flavors were consistently described as too perfume-y, and the chocolate had a waxy texture, suggesting that allergen-free might come at the cost of taste and texture in this case.
The Godiva Dark Chocolate Gift Box, a brand frequently mentioned in comments, once held a special place for some as a high school favorite. However, current assessments suggest a decline in quality, with the reviewers believing they would not compare favorably to top-rated boxed chocolate gifts available today.
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 generally described as cloying, thick, and pasty, resembling old-fashioned fudge, which aligns with the company’s description of their chocolates as “truffle fudge.” These might appeal to those specifically seeking a fudge-like chocolate experience in a boxed gift.
See’s Assorted Chocolates, a value pick in earlier tastings, offers larger pieces, suitable for two bites rather than one. While a nostalgic favorite for some, it was considered unable to compete with more boutique chocolate options. Nevertheless, See’s was still rated significantly better than Russell Stover, indicating a mid-range position in the boxed chocolates market.
Finally, Russell Stover and Whitman’s received poor scores overall from panelists. They were criticized for tasting artificial and were generally disliked, placing them at the lower end of the spectrum for boxed chocolates as gifts.
Choosing the right Boxed Chocolates For Gifts involves considering not just the brand name but also the specific qualities of the chocolates themselves. Factors like flavor complexity, texture, freshness, and even the balance between chocolate and fillings play a crucial role in delivering a truly delightful and appreciated gift. When selecting boxed chocolates for gifts, it’s wise to look beyond attractive packaging and delve into reviews and descriptions to ensure you are giving a treat that is as delicious as it is beautiful.
