Chocolate will never go out of style as a romantic gift, but the last thing you want to do on Valentine’s Day is present your loved one with a generic brand you could have bought in your local garage!
To keep things suitably romantic, seek out more traditionally made, artisan chocolate, and you’ll give your sweetheart a taste sensation they’ll never forget.
Hotel Chocolat has branches all over the country, so popping into your nearest store may be the easiest way to acquire hand-made, luxury chocolate. Highlights of its Valentine selection this year include Melting hearts (£11); a selection of melt-in-the-mouth heart-shaped treats and The Affection Collection; an indulgent blend of flavours to stimulate mind and body.
L’Artisan du Chocolat, based in Notting Hill, is taking orders right up until this Friday for delivery in time for Valentine’s Day. Its usual mouth-watering selection of couture chocolate, salted bars and truffles all make delicious gifts, but the romantically inclined will enjoy the chocolate message hearts (£1.99), which come with a special inscribing stick for a personal message; or Love Potion no. 9 (£6.50): a seductively smooth hot chocolate mixture containing cloves, rose petals and basil.
For a decadent chocolate experience à deux, drop into the boutique on Friday from 7-8pm for chocolate cocktails.
If you or your partner love chocolate so much you’d like to be able to make your own in an emergency (or just feel like having a romantic and fun new experience), chocolate making workshops make a great Valentine’s treat.
Since the day falls on a Sunday, there are plenty to choose from over the weekend: our favourite tip so far is My Chocolate’s All Loved Up workshop – a Fifties-style evening of indulgent cookery and chocolate-tasting with unlimited champagne and the chance to cut, dip and decorate hand-made truffles, Italian praline and melted Belgian chocolate. Running on 13 and 14 February, the workshop lasts two hours and costs £149.
Image: Love Janine
