Valentine's Day is a celebration of love that lasts all year round. Nothing expresses timeless love like chocolates. A box of chocolates with red roses is the most traditional and yet the most touching of all Valentine's Day gifts.

Some people plan a list of gifts and surprises for their sweetheart while others want to give a simple, romantic gift. Either way, you cannot go wrong with heart shaped chocolates, red and pink satin ribbons, and cards with love quotes. Chocolates can add that extra hint of romance and sensuality that makes your day all the more special.

Valentine's Day Chocolates for Lovers

Hotel Chocolat's range of gourmet Valentine's chocolates speaks the language of love and can make someone's heart go pitter-patter in delight. Hotel Chocolat has put together a selection of chocolate gifts for lovers.

"Sealed With A Kiss" is an extravagant heart-shaped box filled with 35 decorated chocolates in romantic shapes like hearts and kisses. The chocolates come with melt-in-your-mouth praline, mushy caramel, and deliciously soft truffle fillings. With a host of flavors ranging from sparkling champagne, tangy berry and lemon, to dark chocolate and blueberry to drown the senses, this gift is designed to make your sweetheart swoon.

For those who want to go with an artistically elegant chocolate box, the "Lovebirds" gift would be the perfect choice. It comprises a set of 12 chocolates with love-bird shaped milk chocolates and heart-shaped smooth caramel and lush strawberry chocolates.

The "Love Notes" gift box is a charming, old-world style valentine gift that comes with special hidden love notes. This set of 12 heart-shaped chocolates includes luxurious flavors like champagne Bellini caramel praline, dark mousse, and lemon berry tart. "To My Valentine" is a letter themed chocolate gift that comes with a milk chocolate slab adorned with a strawberry heart.

If you want something sensuous and naughty, then go with "Chilli Sweethearts," the box of dark chocolate hearts with hints of chilli. To play a winning hand you can also go with the dramatic 70% cocoa King & Queen of Heart chocolates. The "Love Me Do" gift boxes have six heart shaped truffles of a single flavor; you can choose from a range of popular flavors.

Valentine's Day Milk Chocolates

Not everyone is a cocoa fan. For such people Hotel Chocolat has melt-your-heart strawberry flavored milk chocolates and cream truffles laced with a dash of champagne. The "Pink Champagne Truffles" gift comes with a keepsake tin heart-shaped baby pink box. You can also opt for the fun "Dark Lemon Truffles Keepsake Heart" box or the elegant "Classic Champagne Truffles Keepsake Heart"

Indulge the Child in You

Gift an adorable heart shaped, strawberry white-chocolate lolly to make someone smile and be filled with childlike wonder. The "Passion Meringue Pie" (a fruity, chocolate coated ganache with meringue sprinkles) and "You Smoothie" also make for fun Valentine gifts.

Chocolates for Family and Friends

Valentine's day is not just for lovers; it is also a time to express the love you feel for your parents, friends, siblings, and others dear to your heart. Hotel Chocolat's range of Valentine's Day Chocolates has something to suit each and every relationship. The "Goody Bag" as the name suggests is an assortment of chocolates that makes for a perfect valentines gift for friends and family.

No matter which chocolate you choose, give the gift with the spirit of love that lies at the heart of this day.

MostlyAboutChocolate is a blog founded by Judith Lewis, a journalist, search expert and reviewer who claims she has started this blog out of her consuming passion for chocolate. Moreover, Judith Lewis was also one of the judges at the Academy of Chocolate Awards in 2011, and she posts articles about this amazing treat on a regular basis.

Blog Content

The blog is divided into several distinct parts, and the "City Chocolate Guides" is one of them. Basically, this section describes some of the most important chocolate shops in major cities from all across the world such as Amsterdam, Berlin, Toronto, London or San Francisco. This information come in handy if you plan to travel to any of the above-mentioned cities and you are a chocolate lover who never misses a chance to taste something different!

The "World's Best Chocolate" section, on the other hand, is actually a poll that aims to determine the most popular chocolate brand in the world. Here, readers can vote for their favorite brand and the results will be published at the end of the campaign.

Just like most blogs and websites dedicated to those who are passionate about chocolate, MostlyAboutChocolate also contains reviews, recipes and the latest news on this topic. All the blog content is divided into different categories, like chocolate recipes, coffee, wine, top cocktails, interviews, events and such. The Recipes section is undoubtedly the most popular, as here readers can find a wealth of recipes as well as contests where they can win various prizes.

In addition to information about chocolate, this blog also has articles about wine and life - wine connoisseurs will certainly enjoy the valuable wine-related information found on MostlyAboutChocolate. Also, visitors can easily subscribe to the blog newsletter and they will receive notifications constantly, especially since Judith Lewis is posting interesting content almost every day.

Moreover, the blog also contains a comprehensive list of some of the most popular websites that contain information about chocolate and other treats, along with a short description for every one of them. The Gastronomy Ranking section aims to display the position of MostlyAboutChocolate amongst the most reputable websites and blogs from the food industry. In February 2013, this blog was situated on the 4th position out of 20 (according to Wikio.co.uk).

The blog also features a "Chocolate Past Calendar" that comes in handy if you want to find information from a particular day - if you click on a date, you will be automatically redirected to the daily archives where you can find all the reviews, articles and news that were posted that day. Also, readers who want to be up-to-date with the latest posts can subscribe to the RSS feed, Facebook or Twitter account created for MostlyAboutChocolate and they will be informed whenever new content is added to the blog.

Review Submission Guidelines

Although Judith Lewis does accept reviews from other people, she states clearly that she is not interested in link exchange and that the articles must be high quality in order to be accepted. Any professional and reputable blog should have clear and concise guidelines regarding review submission.

Children love huge boxes of Christmas chocolate from the supermarket. Every year, they rip the wrapping paper from the package of candy and are absolutely thrilled. That’s because kids have simple tastes. Candy is always good, and popular brands of chocolate are the tastiest and most exciting treat they can imagine.

Chocolate gifts can be well appreciated by adults, too. However, it takes something with a little more class to impress a mature and sophisticated man or woman. Primary colours, cartoon Santas, and bland chocolate are not going to cut it.

When choosing chocolate gifts for your loved ones this year, think about what will really delight them. Adults want quality, not quantity. They appreciate humour and whimsy. They delight in intense and unusual flavours. They want hand crafted, beautifully packaged chocolates that look good and taste wonderful. They prefer flavours that are thrilling and luxurious, so that they can savour one piece at a time.

You can see and taste the quality of a truly high class chocolate. However, the very best chocolate can be difficult to find. It is hand made, and it’s often tucked away in small shops, off the beaten path.

Fortunately, it’s also possible to buy boutique chocolate online.

Hotel Chocolat is a perfect example. Their chocolate gifts are beautiful and imaginative. The design of the packaging and the chocolates themselves is artful enough to fit the most fashionable homes. However, the chocolates are so delicious that the lovely display they make is doomed to be short lived.

Founded by Angus Thirlwell and Peter Harris two decades ago, Hotel Chocolat makes chocolates with a high concentration of top quality cocoa. Their level of sweetness is designed to appeal to an adult palate.

Hotel Chocolat has a stunning array of Christmas gifts, almost a hundred in all. They range from small, fun and unique gifts like Chilli Penguins [1] to the most elegant and lux collection of chocolate: the utterly gorgeous, 125 piece Chocolatier's Table [2].

Imagine a chocolate loving couple’s joy at receiving a Truffles for Two Advent Calendar [3]. From Tipsy Christmas Puddings [4] to Alternative Chocolate Mince Pies [5], Hotel Chocolat is improving upon the Christmas classics. For the fruit loving hedonist, there are chocolate covered, brandy soaked slices of apple [6].

Hotel Chocolat has charming tins of chocolate, baskets of chocolate, chocolate lollies and chocolate art tiles. They sell chocolate covered fruit, chocolate covered nuts, and drinking chocolate. Of course, they have both dark and milk chocolate. There is something for every taste, and there’s always something new to try.

However, Hotel Chocolat isn’t only focused on the final product. They care about what goes into their chocolates, too. They work with cocoa farmers in Ghana to help improve their lives and their communities, while producing the highest quality raw ingredients possible. By concentrating on both the excellence of the cocoa and the art of chocolate making, they are able to produce a product of absolutely stunning quality.

This Christmas, show some class. Save the supermarket chocolates for the children. Instead, buy your friends and loved ones something really special from Hotel Chocolat.

[1] https://www.hotelchocolat.co.uk/christmas-gifts-for-him-P111299/

[2] https://www.hotelchocolat.co.uk/luxury-chocolate-box-P260565/

[3] https://www.hotelchocolat.co.uk/luxury-advent-calendar-P300309/

[4] https://www.hotelchocolat.co.uk/xmas-stocking-fillers-P111321/

[5] https://www.hotelchocolat.co.uk/chocolate-mince-pies-P300296/

[6] https://www.hotelchocolat.co.uk/chocolate-apple-P340036/

Despite its French name, Artisan Du Chocolat is actually a British company that was founded 13 years ago, back in 1999, by Anne Weyns and Gerard Coleman. Slowly but surely, Artisan Du Chocolat has managed to make a name for itself in the chocolate industry, by providing a wide range of high-quality chocolate bars and liquid salted caramels.

The company is renowned worldwide for producing sweets of exceptional creativity and quality. What truly makes Artisan Du Chocolate stand out from the crowd is the fact that just as the name implies, this company was the very first British enterprise to produce chocolate using ground cocoa beans on artisan scale. Here you will find detailed information with regards to this company and its products.

Products
On its official website, Artisan Du Chocolat has a special section dedicated to winter holidays - here you can find a wide variety of chocolate products, from hampers and delicious, edible tree decorations to stocking fillers and special gifts. The prices range anywhere between £1-200, and the products come in various flavours: nuts, fruits, herbs, spices, dark chocolate or white chocolate are only some of them.
In addition to this, Artisan Du Chocolat also provides special products, such as alcohol-free or nut-free chocolate bars, along with 100% vegetarian sweets. On the other hand, you can also opt for lactose-free milk bars or sugar-free dark/milk bars. Having said that, Artisan Du Chocolat provides sweets even for the most demanding customers! The products can be either purchased online, or from one of the numerous land-based stores.
Moreover, other specialties include truffles, couture chocolates, pearls or special selection boxes which contain a mix of different types of chocolate. Last but not least, all the products come in various shapes and sizes: you can choose from custom hotel chocolate, heart chocolates, gold coins, edible Christmas decorations and so on. 

Dark Chocolate Bars
This is undoubtedly one of the most important sections of Artisan Du Chocolat. The chocolate bars have different origins: you can choose from Panama organic dark bar, Vietnam dark bar, Congo dark chocolate or bars from Haiti, Java, Madagascar and Colombia. Taking the Java dark bar as an example, this is a refined sweet that contains intense flavours of tobacco, wine and copper. Given their unique and innovative ingredients, the dark chocolate bars manufactured and distributed by Artisan Du Chocolat will certainly redefine the way you see sweets!

Salted Caramels 
The company also produces a variety of salted caramel products, from biscuits to caramel sauce. On the other hand, you can opt for the traditional salted caramels that have different flavours: lemongrass, balsamic vinegar, pink and black pepper, sage and thyme banana and so forth. 
At Artisan Du Chocolat, you can also find numerous chocolate gift ideas that will certainly help you take your loved ones by surprise: mini tasting boxes, truffle flavour boxes, artisan indulgence gifts or collection boxes are only some of them.

To summarize, the company has been producing and delivering top-notch chocolate bars and other products since 1999, and it has managed to create innovative, unique and delicious types of chocolate that indulge both the soul and the body.

Everybody craves for a piece of chocolate, and many people tend to eat chocolate daily. This smooth and delectable delicacy comes in various types, flavours and sizes so as to suit varying tastes and preferences. A box of chocolates also makes a great gift. However it is important that you choose chocolate that is made from the finest ingredients, and if you intend to give it as a gift, you need to ensure that it is presented in a decorative manner. If you want to guarantee all of these factors, your best choice is buying a box of chocolate from www.chocolatebygenevie.co.uk.

Here you will be able to find the finest Belgian chocolates ever. The range includes dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, and truffles, to name a few. You will be able to choose from a wide selection of chocolate boxes, which vary in sizes and types, but have one thing in common. They are all exquisitely packed and decorated, making them a wonderful gift for your loved ones on any special occasion.

When browsing the site you will end up spoilt for choice. Each product is clearly described and all the chocolates are listed so as to make sure that you will know exactly what you are purchasing. A photo of the box is also included, and you will be able to add a personalised gift card when checking out.

All the chocolates are beautifully presented and you will also have the possibility to specify the amount of chocolates of a particular type you prefer to have. The site is very user-friendly and the checkout process is very simple too. Delivery is restricted to the UK only. The company also provides a delivery guarantee so as to ensure that the clients are satisfied with their purchase, and in case the chocolates do not arrive in good condition, a refund will be made or another box of chocolates will be sent.

Buying from Chocolate by Genevie is a guarantee that you are buying high quality, delicious chocolates. You will surely be satisfied with your purchase, just as many other customers have been.

Chocolate is one of the more delicious foods you will run across. As with anything good, there are always people out there who will have negative things to say. With this in mind, let's take a look at the top 10 chocolate myths.

Chocolate Myths
Myth 1 - Our first myth is eating chocolate will make you fat. This is far from true. Let's consider the classic Hershey's chocolate bar. One bar contains about 210 calories. It takes more than 2,000 calories for a woman and 2,500 calories a day for a man to gain weight. Eating one candy bar is not going to make you fat. Now, if you eat a lot of chocolate every day, you are probably going to run into problems. Of course, if you eat a ton of fruit each day, you will as well. Chocolate in moderation will not cause you to gain weight.

Myth 2 - Eating chocolate will cause you to suffer breakouts on your face. Acne is the bane of all of us, but study after study shows eating chocolate simply does not correlate to acne breakouts. In fact, clinical studies reported in major medical journals have even found the cocoa in chocolate is good for the skin because it helps promote blood circulation.

Myth 3 - People who eat chocolate get cavities. This myth is true if you don't floss and brush your teeth. However, it is true for practically any food or drink consumed if you don't take care of your dental hygiene. Cavities occur when bacteria in your mouth convert sugars and produces acid as a byproduct. It doesn't matter if the sugar comes from fruit, a soda or chocolate. If you floss and brush your teeth as instructed by your dentist, eating chocolate is no more likely to cause calories than eating an apple.

Myth 4 - Chocolate is bad for you because it has high sodium levels. Sodium, better known as salt, is necessary for the body to function, but too much of it can cause high blood pressure and other health issues. The recommended maximum amount of sodium you should consume in a day is just over 3,000mg. A classic chocolate bar contains between 35 and 40mgs of sodium. You can do the math on this myth.

Myth 5 - Chocolate is bad for you because it contains high amounts of caffeine. I find this myth particularly interesting because it is often communicated to me by someone holding an energy drink loaded with caffeine! In truth, a chocolate bar does contain caffeine - roughly a quarter coffee cup worth. This is hardly a health issue.

Myth 6 - Many of use are concerned about our cholesterol levels these days. Given this, claims that chocolate is high in cholesterol would seem to be troubling. The problem is this is a complete myth. A bar of chocolate contains roughly 10 to 12mgs of cholesterol. In contrast, an egg has about 260mgs of cholesterol.

Myth 7 - An odd, but popular, myth is chocolate can cause headaches. Multiple studies have been done on this subject. The results have indicated this simply isn't the case although it can be with certain other dairy products.

Myth 8 - Chocolate is an empty calorie food is yet another incorrect myth. The argument in this case is chocolate is simply sugar and cocoa butter, so it provides you with nothing nutritious. In truth, researchers have discovered chocolate has the same flavanols as found in red wine. Flavanols help maintain heart heath.

Myth 9 - Our next myth is eating chocolate will raise your blood pressure. If anything, the opposite is true. Studies have found cocoa actually lowers blood pressure. This is particularly true for chocolate products containing more than 50 percent of cocoa.

Myth 10 - Kids eating chocolate will become obese adults. This myth is truly one of those theories coming to us out of left field. There is simply no evidence for this nor is there any evidence for this with any foods. The key, as always, is moderation.

Chocolate is an amazing food nobody should go without. Don't believe the negative myths you hear about chocolate or, frankly, any food. Once you look at the facts, you'll find many of the wild claims simply are not true.

The history of chocolate dates back to the year when the cocoa tree was discovered. Cocoa is known for its numerous health benefits, and especially for its sweet taste. Having said that, the history of chocolate dates back more than two millennia. Of course, 2000 years ago chocolate was radically different compared to the tasty chocolate bars we have today.

As a matter of fact, it was initially a drink that was extremely popular among those who lived in the Mesoamerican area. This drink was usually very spicy, and it was prepared by the Mayan and the Aztec people. Slowly but surely, this delicious cocoa drink was introduced to Europe as well. Despite the fact that they did not have the necessary technology to process cocoa back then, the delicious taste has remained the same for more than 2000 years!

As opposed to popular belief, ancient people did not use this particular drink solely for its sweet taste - it actually played a pivotal role in religious ceremonies, as well as in various social events. The Aztecs even considered this drink to be somehow sacred, as it was mainly used by priest, soldiers and other people who played an important role on the social scene of the time.

Some of the main ingredients in this chocolate drink were water, corn meal and chilly pepper. The result was a bittersweet beverage that was highly popular at the time, especially among royalty. Despite the fact that this type of chocolate was relatively liquid and it was considered to be a drink, it was more like a paste that resulted from the fermentation of cocoa seeds. 

Regarding chocolate in European countries, it must be mentioned that it has a relatively short history, as cocoa beans have arrived here in the 16th century - until then, nobody was aware of their existence. Slowly but surely, people started to import high-quality cocoa beans and even grow their own cocoa trees in Europe. In the 17th century, people have started to slowly transform the chocolate paste into solid chocolate bars, that have become popular all around the world shortly after this change. 

Chocolate as we know it today was produced for the first time in the mid 1700s, when the technological innovations made it possible for people to process cocoa in a faster and more effective manner. These inventions along with the possibility of advertising this new and sweet product made chocolate bars go "viral", and people all around the world started to purchase them. 

Until the 1700s, chocolate products were mainly handmade. However, the industrialization process made it possible for people to produce and distribute chocolate at a larger scale. However, it must be mentioned that the first chocolate bars were extremely expensive, and only the wealthy could afford it. The most important changes regarding the chocolate making process happened in the 19th century: in 1815, alkaline salts were added for the first time to improve the consistency and texture of chocolate, while cocoa butter was invented in 1830. Four decades later, the first milk chocolate was produced, and it quickly became a popular favourite. 

To summarize, this is a brief history of chocolate. What is today one of the most popular treats started a couple thousand year ago, as a drink. The industrialization process had a massive impact on the entire process, and it has brought its contribution to the development of chocolate bars as we know them today.