Yesterday, I posted article “Top 10 Expensive Chocolate Gifts for Valentine’s Day 2011“, but if you have to lock up your wallet in this downturn year. Why not consider buying that special person in your life one of the following most delicious chocolates in the world.

NO.1 DOMORI

The Domori chocolate brand is named after the founder and president Domori Mack, whose actual name is Gianluca Franzoni.

Did you know that Domori actually means “Two Moors” in Venice and was used not only for Gianluca’s name but also that of his chocolate range as he lived in the cocoa plantations in Venezuela and wanted a name that reminded him of home. Today the company is located just outside of Turin, Italy. Although the company was founded in 1994, today it is part of the illy Group.

NO.2 Pierre Marcolini

Made from only the finest cacao beans harvested from chocolate plantations in Venezuela, Ecuador, Madagascar and Mexico, Pierre Marcolini chocolates are simple and elegant, many displaying nothing more than the signature name on them. Pierre stands by the phrase, “less is more,” and lets the outstanding quality and exquisite taste of his chocolate speak for itself.

NO.3 Leonidas

In the early part of the 1900s, Leonidas Kestekides moved from Constantinople to Greece and then to Italy, where he was employed as a wine merchant. As times became hard, he moved to the United States and became a confectioner in New York. In 1910, Leonidas travelled to Belgium to introduce his confections there.

His delightful creations met with extraordinary success at the World Fair in Brussels that year and in 1913 at the World Fair in Ghent. He was awarded the bronze medal in Brussels and the gold medal in Ghent for his exquisite chocolate creations. With the success he achieved in Belgium, combined with the fact that he had met and fallen in love with a beautiful woman who eventually became his wife, Leonidas made the decision to relocate permanently to Belgium.He then opened tea rooms in Ghent, Blankenberge and Brussels.

In the early part of the 1900s, Leonidas moved from Constantinople to Greece and then to Italy, where he was employed as a wine merchant. As times became hard, he moved to they United States and became a confectioner in New York. Nearly 100 years later, Leonidas is now an established and world recognized chocolate company with more than 100 various kinds of exquisite Belgian chocolate available through over 1,400 outlets worldwide.

NO.4 Neuhaus

In 1857, Jean Neuhaus opened a small apothecary in Brussels. Jean and his son, Frederic, ran the small apothecary, continually adding new and delicious confectionary inventions. In fact, they introduced so many new delicacies that the pharmaceuticals in the apothecary soon made way for the delightful and sweet confections created by the father-son pair.

Frederic’s son, Jean II joined the team and in 1912, introduced the first bonbons filled with chocolate. Louise Agostini, wife of Jean II, desired to find a more appropriate way of wrapping these precious pralines. Soon, she and her husband replaced the cornet bags that had previously been used to wrap the pralines with a beautiful gift-wrapped box that was later patented as “the ballotin.”

The business continued to be a family affair as Jean’s daughter and son-in-law, Suzanne and Adelson de Gavre, stepped in and contributed a number of their own confectionary inventions and creative packaging ideas. As this family business steadily grew, expansion soon became necessary. Today, Neuhaus boasts approximately 1600 outlets internationally, 80 of these in Brussels.

NO.5 zChocolat

For people who search for pure decadence in everything that chocolate has to offer, discovering zChocolat will be like finding a little piece of heaven. Apparently the French take chocolate making as seriously as they do their wine.

zChocolat have been rated Forbes’s favorite online chocolatier by Forbes Inc since March 2005 and it’s no wonder as their chocolates are hand-made by 4 award-winning French chocolatiers in Pascal Caffet, Fabrice Gillotte, Franck Fresson and Philippe Urraca.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner why not show that special someone in your life just how much you adore them by sending the perfect chocolate gift using their user friendly gift services.

BEST: Zchocolate wins style points for its refillable mahogany boxes that can be custom engraved with a diamond brass plate.

WORST: Only the ballotin assortments can be hand picked.

NO.6 GODIVA

Joseph Draps of Brussels, Belgium founded a chocolate company in 1926. He sought a name for his company that would embody the richness and pure elegance of his fine line of chocolates, while creating images of timeless passion and style with a sense of boldness. Thus, Godiva was born, named after the illustrious legend, Lady Godiva.

NO.7 Michel Chaudun

Michel Cluizel chocolates have been renowned since the mid-20th century, when Michel Cluizel first opened a family-run shop in Normandy. One of the rare chocolatiers to process their own carefully-selected cocoa beans, Michel Cluizel’s chocolates are known for their distinct, balanced flavors. At the famous store near the Tuileries Gardens and the St. Honoré fashion district, visitors can indulge in delicious dark or milk bars, each produced from a distinct blend of cocoa beans in Cluizel’s chocolaterie. Whole cocoa beans can also be purchased.

NO.8 Lindt

Lindt is the largest manufacturer of prestige chocolate in the world, accounting for 4% of sales. The line is very diverse, from boxed chocolates to Lindor Truffles to seasonal novelties to infused-flavor bars. The crown of the kingdom, though, is the Excellence line. Not only is it excellent: For the price, it’s one of the best values in Chocolatedom.

NO.9 GuyLian

Guylian, a Belgian chocolate company founded in 1960 by Guy Foubert, is perhaps most well known for their chocolate seashells with various praline fillings. The chocolates are hand made, making each one truly unique.

NO.10 Valrhona

Valrhona focuses mainly on high-grade luxury chocolate marketed for professional as well as for private consumption. Though considered one of the foremost chocolate makers in the world, Valrhona is in roughly the same price range as Godiva and Neuhaus. The product line includes chocolate confectionery, plain and flavored chocolate bars and bulk chocolate in bars or pellets. Valrhona produces vintage chocolate made from beans of a single year’s harvest from a specific plantation, primarily the Grand Crus which is grown in South America, the Oceania and the Caribbean. Currently three brands of vintage chocolates – Ampamakia, Gran Couva and Palmira – are in production with plantations on Madagascar, Trinidad and in Venezuela respectively.

NO.11 Debauve et Gallais

Debauve & Gallais has a tradition of making chocolates that are low in sugar and high in fine-quality cocoa. They do not use soy lecithin or any type of emulsifier in their chocolate. Other ingredients include Piedmont hazelnuts, Perigord nuts, Turkish raisins, Spanish almonds, Turin chestnuts and Antilles rum. There are no dyes, preservatives or other additives permitted in Debauve & Gallais chocolate.

NO.12 Truffles

French chocolate truffles have the best reputation of all truffles in the world since the truffle was invented in France. Named for the small mushroom it resembles in shape, the chocolate truffle is taken so seriously that regions in France have contests on the best chocolate truffles produced.

These luxurious chocolate truffles are usually covered in milk chocolate, dark chocolate or white chocolate. The chocolate truffle recipe consists of a filling called a ganache and is composed of cream and chocolate and sometimes other ingredients and flavorings are added such as fruits, nuts and liquors like port wine. A dusting of cocoa powder on the outside of the truffle makes for a taste contrast that is delightful. A package for French chocolate truffles are usually as beautiful as the candies with gold foil used within the box or clear lidded box used to make a fine gift presentation. A tin box also makes a fine quality container. A hand made product makes a natural gift regardless of the box count. Even a single truffle is a treat to be savored.

French food is known for other special tasty chocolate treats, such as the chocolate eclair and the chocolate mousse. Of all gourmet foods, the French chocolate truffles are a very convenient way for these special French chocolates to be shipped to the world.

See larger image 2.2 Pounds of Chocolate Truffles - French Truffles - (Misc.)

Truffle-Yum

Bet you can’t eat just one. These truffles come fully packed with gooey goodness from smell to lick to taste to swallow. And it is OK if a little is left on your fingers. the chocolate is still good. The only problem is when the box is empty.

What can I say, French chocolate truffles are a delectable taste treat that everyone should experience at least once. With over 2 pounds in two foil pouches there’s plenty to share…and they should be shared.

The perfect form for chocolate

I actually bought these at Costco so I can’t comment on the seller. But they are so amazing I had to write it down somewhere!

The texture is unbearably creamy and smooth – reminds me of butter just as it barely starts to soften (not all the way at room temperature or greasy yet) and unlike butter you can roll this around in your mouth and it doesn’t turn into icky oil. Well, now I have grossed everybody out, sorry. These are WAY better than plain butter, OK? I just happen to love butter in the same way I love chocolate (unnaturally passionately), and these truffles are independent enough not to demand toast for full enjoyment, so what could be better?

I was dismayed to read that this texture probably exists because they are chock full of evil oils. I had to eat another one after learning this (normally I think margarine is the most horrible stuff ever), and still couldn’t identify any flavor other than deep, dark, sweet chocolate. More chocolatey than even a good, pure chocolate bar (like Scharffenberger or 70% Lindt) – I think it’s the texture that makes the truffle somehow talk to your tongue more effectively.

Decadent is definitely the right word. They are actually so rich and filling that even if your mouth begs you, it’s not all that hard to stop eating them. It’s just hard to stop thinking about them.

I order every year!!

Not only are these great holiday gifts, but the sellers are top professionals! For two years in a row I have ordered their great chocolates as gifts. Over 1/2 of my friends and family go on to re-order these amazing chocolates again from these sellers. Amazon overcharged me the shipping last year and the sellers fixed the problem in no time. I wish everyone I dealt with had such a good product and professional service. Yummy tasting and a big hit at a great price. VirginiaChocolate Gift

Valrhona Chocolate is rated No.12 in our “Top 12 Most Delicious Chocolate for Valentine’s Day 2011“

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See larger image Valrhona - Le Grands Crus -70% Dark Chocolate - Guanaja Bar - Amber & Elegant - 2.46 ozs (Misc.) New From: $15.00 In Stock

Nestled in the Rhone Valley, the company was established in 1924 under the name La Chocolaterie de Vivirais, but changed its name to Valrhona in the 1950s. An acclaimed pioneer in the prestige chocolate world, Valrhona was among the first brands to introduce Grand Cru and Vintage chocolate bars, in which all the beans come from the same geographical region (Grand Cru) or the same harvest season (Vintage). This bean selection results in aromas and flavors that emphasize the uniqueness of the cacao from the specific locale. (Consider the analogy of the different characteristics of juice yielded by cabernet sauvignon grapes from Pomerol vs. Graves in Bordeaux, or from cabernet grapes in Bordeaux vs. California vs. Australia.) However, Valrhona did not sell its chocolate direct to the consumer until 1986—prior to then it sold couverture only to chocolate manufacturers.

The majority of Valrhona’s chocolate have a light fruity or floral tone, as a result of the house style of light roasting. The bars also might taste sharp or even tannic due to both the roasting and the fermentation of the beans.² The exception to the house style is Gran Couva, which has no fruitiness whatsoever due to the nature of the bean.

Of all prestige chocolate brands, Valrhona’s texture is the textbook example of smoothness. To a connoisseur, it calms, relaxes, and soothes the palate and inner self into a medley of chocolate bliss.

Fruity and floral tones are flavors of the bean; sharp and tannic tones result from lighter roasting and perhaps short fermentation. As a result, the combination will taste fruity and sharp. If you try Pralus’ Jamaica bar, for example: It tastes tannic, yet has that dark tone looming throughout.

Not to be Missed

• Guanaja 70%. Intense and fruity with long length and a clean finish. A remarkable chocolate from Honduras and among the highlights of Valrhona’s bars. A classic and a favorite of many connoisseurs.
• Cao Grande Organic Bars. Introduced in 2006, a 70% bittersweet bar with Valrhona’s signature fruit flavors and a 39% caramel-and-biscuity milk bar (photo at right). They prove for once and for all that great skill in production can create great organic chocolate. As good as any Valrhona bars, they are perhaps the best organic chocolate on earth.

Ultimate dark chocolate for home cooking

This is the ultime dark chocolate for home cooking.
As with the other Valrhona dark chocolate, it has a great intense flavor. And it has long-lasting flavor: you can feel the flavor for one minute or more after swallowing. Great!
It is a bit less bitter than the Guanaja type (from the same brand) and it has a bit more cocoa butter to make melting easier.
If you are not scared of raw eggs, try making a chocolate mousse au cru with this chocolate and find heaven.

For home chefs, this brand introduced recently more flavors in the 200grams bars.
For professional cooking this same brand offers a lot of varieties, but they come in the 3kg package (about 6 pounds) too.

Death By Chocolate, October 4, 2007

I had a weird dream last night where i was being dipped in a giant pot of melted Valrhona Gastronomique 61%. Imagine a Chocolate covered strawberry… Well, i was the strawberry! Did i complain?…no of course i enjoyed every minutes of it. Is it because i made the ultimate chocolate cake yesterday using that stuff that i had this wild dream?…You bet! This stuff has the deepest, yummiest, addictivest chocolate flavor EVER! Absolutely great for baking.

Valrhona Chocolate is rated No.10 in our “Top 12 Most Delicious Chocolate for Valentine’s Day 2011“

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See larger image Guylian Belgian Chocolate Sea Shells, 8.82 oz (Misc.) New From: $11.99 In Stock

Guylian History

The name Guylian is derived from the combination of the first names of the founder and his wife, Lilian. The company was founded in 1960 when Guy and Lilian were married. They operated the small production out of their home, selling truffles and pralines to local shops. As the business grew, Guy developed the idea of shaping the chocolates into seashells, setting Guylian Chocolates apart from the other chocolate companies. In 1988, the company expanded with the opening of a factory in Sint-Niklaas. Lotte Confectionary purchased Guylian in 2008.

Guylian Project Seahorse

Since 1999, Guylian Chocolates has been a leading sponsor of Project Seahorse, an organization founded in 1996 to help conserve the seahorse and other marine life population that is threatened by human interventions such as the destruction of marine natural habitats and catch in fishing gear. More than 25 million seahorses are traded on the global market each year. Each time a box of Guylian Belgian Chocolates is purchased, a portion of the procedes goes to support Project Seahorse.

Guylian Chocolates

Guylian Chocolates are available in a wide array of delicious and tantalizing combinations and treats.

Guylian Seashells

The original chocolate seashells that helped to make this company famous are produced in milk, dark, or white chocolate and filled with a luscious roasted hazelnut praline.

Guylian Seahorses

The seahorse is the most beloved shape of the famous seashell chocolates. The seahorse is featured in its very own range with a dark chocolate shell and a delicious filling made of creamy white chocolate and strawberries.

Guylian Opus

Guylian’s Opus collection is an assortment of fine Belgian chocolates with a variety of exquisite flavours such as orange cream, cappuccino cream, chocolate mousse, and a number of other fillings.

Guylian La Trufflina

The amazing chocolate truffles in this collection include milk, white and dark chocolates with a delicious filling of milk chocolate.

Guylian Solitaire Origin Chocolates

These dark chocolate squares are produced from the finest cacao beans from around the world. Varieties include Asian Dark, Asian Gold and African Ebony.

Guylian Twistwraps

These individual bite sized chocolates are available in mono flavours or mixed flavours of milk and dark chocolate shells filled with ganache, creamy caramel, cappuccino cream, hazelnut praline, orange cream or chocolate truffle.

Guylian Chocolate Bars

Guylian’s unique chocolate bars can be purchased in 3 different ranges. The no sugar added bar is available in both milk and dark chocolate. The unique seashell bar is made of creamy milk chocolate with the infamous hazelnut praline filling used in the original seashell chocolates. Each of the 4 wedges of the seashell bar is decorated with the famous seashell that marks the Guylian brand.

Gourmet Guylian Chocolate

Guylian also carries a small range of gourmet products with its Praline Cream Liqueur and sensational chocolate dip made of fine dark Belgian Chocolate.

Fantastic

Nothing… and I mean absolutely nothing compares to these. Semi-hard chocolate shell outside and incredibly smooth chocolate inside. It’s heaven in a box. Godiva DOESN’T EVEN COMPARE.

Oh my gosh, these are so good, perfect to nibble on!

I love chocolate, and these Guylian chocolate are awesome. I didn’t even think I would like hazelnuts, but they’re so finely ground and it’s a heavenly flavor when combined with the soft marbled chocolate. These chocolates are best consumed by nibbling away at them…. I don’t think I get the same awesome experience when I cram an entire chocolate into my mouth, which is what I did with the first seashell, and I wondered if I could finish the rest of the box. I nibbled the next seashell, and knew the rest of the box was soon to be history.

My husband prefers dark chocolate, specifically Dove dark chocolate, so he didn’t care for the milder chocolate flavor of these seashells. He also neglected to nibble at them, despite my advice. Oh well, more for me.

I’ve moved on to the Guylian Praline Twists, they’re the same thing as the seashells but in individually wrapped form. At my local store, the twists are less expensive than the boxed seashells, between 30-50% cheaper when looking at the price per ounce. Since they’re for me, I don’t need the fancy gift packaging that the seashells have.

GuyLian Chocolate is rated No.9 in our “Top 12 Most Delicious Chocolate for Valentine’s Day 2011“

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See larger image Lindt Excellence Extra Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa, 3.5-Ounce Packages (Pack of 12) (Grocery) List Price: $31.08 USD New From: $30.47 In Stock Release date August 14, 2006.

Lindt is the largest manufacturer of prestige chocolate in the world, accounting for 4% of sales. The line is very diverse, from boxed chocolates to Lindor Truffles to seasonal novelties to infused-flavor bars. The crown of the kingdom, though, is the Excellence line. Not only is it excellent: For the price, it’s one of the best values in Chocolatedom.

Great for your Health and Delicious Too

I bought these bars because of their high content of Cocoa and I have been very pleased with them. I drop a piece in my coffee every morning and makes the coffee tastes great. In the afternoon I use another square and let it melt slowly in my mouth as I drink tea. These are two delicious ways to use this healthy chocolate.

Lindt Extra Dark Choc

These chocolate bars are made with 85% extra dark chocolate. You have to acquire a taste for it because the darker the chocolate, the less sugar it contains. You have to acquire a taste for it because when you taste it for the first time, it has a slightly bitter taste. It took me less than a week to start enjoying the taste. Now, I find I don’t care for regular chocolate because it’s too sweet. It’s also a much healthier chocolate to eat.

Exellence Extra Dark and Delicious.Good for the heart as medical reported

The taste is better and healthier than other dark chocolate with lots of sugar that we used to buy in Dept. Stores.It is my first choice for dark chocolate.Definity ordering again.

Lindt Chocolate is rated No.8 in our “Top 12 Most Delicious Chocolate for Valentine’s Day 2011“

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While Parisian chocolate shops range in style from chic modernism to temples of nostalgia, one shop remains a timeless world of wonders. On a quiet corner of the rue de l’Université, Michel Chaudun has for years produced some of the city’s most exquisite chocolates.

Michel Chaudun 149 rue de l’Universite, Paris 75007 (Stores in Paris and Tokyo) A former employee of La Maison du Chocolate, Michel Chaudun set out on his own just a few years ago, opening a little corner shop on Rue de l’Universite. According to one well-known Parisian food critic, Chaudun’s product now equals that of his mentor, Robert Linxe, in both quality and creativity. His base chocolate, a blend of chocolates from nine sources, is rich and complex.

Products: includes over twenty-five creations, the latest of which is a crunchy, dark chocolate (70 percent cocoa liquor) flavored with toasted, crushed cocoa beans.

Chaudun is an artist—you can see some of the lovely drawings and watercolors he created as a child in a charming shop window that includes his report cards and school pictures. Besides traditionally shaped chocolates, the shop is filled from floor to ceiling with trompe l’oeil délices including an Hermès Kelly bag and a remarkable glossy chocolate chestnut bursting out of its hand-painted prickly marzipan hull.

Two of his finest creations have been widely copied: dark chocolate pastilles filled with éclats de fève (crunchy bits of cocoa bean), and pavés, luscious little cubes of cocoa-dusted ganache. Let one of Chaudun’s pavés melt on your tongue, and you’d swear that Linnaeus tasted one before he named chocolate “food of the gods.”

WebSite: http://www.michel-chaudun.jp/

Michel Chaudun Chocolate is rated No.7 in our “Top 12 Most Delicious Chocolate for Valentine’s Day 2011“

The Legend of Lady Godiva

Many centuries ago in Coventry, England, a lady of royalty known for her generosity and exquisite beauty devoted her life to assisting the poor and impoverished citizens of the land. Lady Godiva was the wife of a powerful ruler, Lord Leofric, who, unlike his elegant wife, was unsympathetic towards the plight of the people he ruled over. When Lord Leofric imposed a taxation of extreme burden upon the citizens of the kingdom, Lady Godiva strongly protested and pleaded for a lifting of the heavy taxation. Thinking the citizens of his kingdom would fail in a test of temptation, Lord Leofric agreed to lift the tax only if his wife rode through the streets of the kingdom on the back of a horse completely unclothed. However, the burden would be lifted only if Lady Godiva successfully rode through the streets completely unobserved by the citizens of the kingdom. Aware of the extreme beauty and elegance of his wife, Lord Leofric was certain that the lowly citizens he ruled over would fail his test. He was blind however, to the extreme respect and loyalty the citizens held for Lady Godiva. He watched in humiliation as his wife rode naked through the streets while each and every citizen remained behind closed doors with shutters and curtains tightly closed. The tax was lifted and Lady Godiva lived on as a legend of elegance, purity, generosity and extreme boldness.

The History of Godiva

The original boutique, founded in 1926 in Brussels, was located in Grand Place. In 1958, an additional shop was opened in Paris. By the mid 1960s the famous Godiva products were being sold at luxury department stores in the United States. The Godiva company was purchased by Campbell Soup Company in 1967 and the first North American Godiva boutique was opened in 1972 on 5th Avenue in New York. In 2008, Campbell Soup Company sold the Godiva company to Yildiz Holding in Istanbul, Turkey.

Godiva Chocolates

Godiva manufactures a wide array of fine chocolates made from quality ingredients. Some of their more popular products include delightful truffles, exquisite pralines,
fruit and nut filled chocolates, sugar free chocolates, solid chocolates, beautifully decorated and tasty biscuits, caramels, and ganaches.

Truffles

Godiva produces a variety of delicious truffles. Some of the more popular flavours include Key Lime, Cinnamon Pear, Strawberry, Roasted Almond, Hazelnut Praline, and Black Raspberry. In addition to these delightful flavour combinations, Godiva produces many more mouth-watering truffles suited to all tastes.

Pralines

Godiva’s pralines are an elegant mixture of creamy smooth milk or white chocolate combined with ground hazelnut and moulded into a variety of elegant shapes. Godiva’s praline heart is available in both milk and white chocolate varieties. The Hazelnut Praline Raindrop is a luscious blend of creamy milk chocolate and crushed roasted hazelnut encased in a delicious white chocolate raindrop shell, while the Almond Praline Raindrop combines both roasted almonds and hazelnuts in a milk chocolate shell.

Solid Chocolates

Godiva produces a fine line of quality solid chocolates made from luscious milk, dark, and white chocolates. Their elegant Mint Demitasse is a delicious and refreshing infusion of mint into their fine dark chocolate.

Packaging

All of Godiva’s quality chocolates can be purchased in an array of elegant packaging. From beautiful gift baskets and towers, wedding and party favours, or simple gift boxes and tins, Godiva takes as much pride in the presentation as in the chocolate itself.

Some trouble along the way, but great in the end, Review By Kevin Krueger

I originally ordered this product under a listing offering a pretty deep discount, which turned out to have been a pricing error. My order was canceled, and there was some confusion getting things straightened out, but Godiva called me today to let me choose an equivalent product free of charge.

The quality of Godiva chocolate was never in question for me personally, and I ended up being quite happy with their quality of service as well.

Wonderful & Easy Gift for all!!!, Review By Beth “QUEEN OF CROHN’S” (Fayetteville, NC)

Godiva certainly has the best quality of chocolate out there. It always makes a very, very special gift. The shipping is always extremely quick, the presentation is lovely, and the chocolates are fabulous! I would absolutely recommend this item as an excellent gift item. This particular assortment is a great way to brighten someone’s day, as a make-up gift, or for any traditional holidays. Another favorite to add to my list of elegant & easy gifts to give or receive!

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Godiva Chocolate is rated No.6 in our “Top 12 Most Delicious Chocolate for Valentine’s Day 2011“

See larger image The Neuhaus Collection - Dark Chocolate (Misc.) New From: $32.49 In Stock

The Stars

The Stars collection consists of legendary Neuhaus chocolate pralines that carry a rich history, delightful shape and popularity, or simply a delectable recipe for exquisite taste. The popular pralines in this collection include Caprice, Tentation, Manon Sucre Vanille, Plaisir, and seven other confectionary delights that are all stars in their own right.

The Praline

The Praline collection at Neuhaus consists of hazelnuts, almonds, or both, covered in a sweet and seductive chocolaty coating. The Praline collection includes the Horta, Napoleanette, Sapho, and Madison, along with eight other exquisite varieties.

Neuhause Truffles

Neuhaus’ truffles are a dark chocolate with a silky butter cream filling and dusting of rich cocoa powder. At Nehaus, theses truffles are characterised by the varying coatings and shapes of the truffles. These delightful confections are available in a number of varieties, including Truffe Classic, Truffe Ampere, Truffe Cognac, Truffe Café, and Truffe Tiramisu, along with four more spectacular varieties.

Neuhaus Panache

Ganache is a delightful bit sized chocolate with a creamy filling made of chocolate combined with another liquid such as cream, coffee, or liqueur. Neuhaus chocolate ganaches include Criollo, Art Noveau, Violetta, Galerie, and Prestige, along with eight other amazing flavour combinations.

Neuhaus Chocolate Bars

Neuhaus’ chocolate bars are available in a range of white, milk or dark chocolate and may be either plain or filled. Enjoy the creamy sweetness of milk chocolate, or the bittersweet delight of dark or extra dark chocolate. Some of Nehaus’ chocolate bar varieties include Hazelnut Praline, Wild Woodland Strawberry Cream, and Almond Praline. Whilst I’ve reivewed the Fueilletine Bar which wasn’t bad.

Buy Neuhaus Chocolates Online

They have a website that you can buy the range of Neuhaus chocolates online, http://www.neuhaus-chocolates.com/

Neuhaus Chocolate is rated No.4 in our “Top 12 Most Delicious Chocolate for Valentine’s Day 2011“

See larger image Leonidas Belgian Chocolates: 1 lb General Assortment (Misc.) New From: $30.00 In Stock

Leonidas Chocolate Bars

Leonidas 50g chocolate bars are available in 7 different varieties: Dark, Milk, White, Orange, Nibs, and Feuilletine. Leonidas’ Orange Chocolate bar combines rich dark chocolate with a subtle flavour of orange. The Nibs Chocolate bar consists of a luscious dark chocolate with nibs of cocoa bean mixed in. Leonidas’ delicious Feuilletine Chocolate bar combines chunks of crispy biscuit with creamy milk chocolate.

Leonidas Chocolate General Assortment

The General Assortment from Leonidas contains a wide variety of Leonidas’ delicious Belgian Pralines arranged neatly in a beautiful ballotin gift box. This general assortment is made up of butter creams, ganaches, the Manon Café, and a number of other delicious and delightful Leonidas pralines. The Leonidas Chocolate General Assortment is an extremely popular item for gift giving and special occasions.

Other Leonidas Chocolate Assortments

Besides their General Assortment, Leonidas Chocolate also offers a number of other convenient and beautifully packaged assortments designed for individual tastes. Other assortments include milk chocolate, dark chocolate, Manon Café and Monon Blanc Ballotin, Fresh Butter Cream, Orangettes, Napolitains, Gianduja, and Marzipan Fruit.

No Sugar Added Chocolate Assortment

Leonidas Chocolate also offers a completely sugar free assortment. This assortment includes ganache vanilla, manon blanc, pear mousse, praline dark nibs, praline milk, and praline puffed rice. The sweeteners used in the processing of these chocolates are maltitol and sorbitol.

Special Items

Leonidas offers a Mickey Mouse box of assorted chocolates for the kids and rodent lovers on your gift-giving list. In addition, Leonidas gift certificates and party favours are available. You can also send a chocolate subscription of delicious Leonidas chocolates to be delivered once a month for either 6 months or a year.

Perfectly Delicious, Review By Rebecca Johnson

If it is possible to fall madly in love with a box of chocolates, then the assortment is the perfect place to start such an adventure. These chocolate are named after Leonidas Kestekidis, who definitely knew how to create chocolates for the true chocolate connoisseur.

When he moved back to Belgium he not only married his true love, he created chocolates the world now adores. When you taste these chocolates, your taste buds will also finally know true chocolate happiness. Whether you try one of these with a cup of coffee or tea or enjoy one as a daily indulgence, these will impress.

The “I Love You” chocolate with dreamy lemon filling embodies this sentiment. Each chocolate has a unique design and the I Love You chocolate has two hearts, ribbons and a seal. After you sample the variety of chocolates, specific flavors will stand out as favorites.

Here are my favorite creamy fillings (ganache and butter cream) which come in dark, white and milk chocolate depending on the selection:

Antoinette – A smooth Brandy flavored ganache

Lingoit Lait – Absolutely delicious vanilla flavored fresh butter cream filling. Time definitely stopped while tasting this chocolate.

Irrésistible – Dark chocolate and Strawberry sauce.

For ever – If you love coffee this may be one of the most delicious milk or dark chocolate chocolates ever made as it is filled with a special coffee cream that has hints of caramel. I ordered an entire box of these and they come in a variety of flavors. The milk chocolate and cherry filling is like Claude Debussy’s Rêverie. It is difficult to describe besides saying it is like a delicate cherry icing wrapped in milk chocolate.

Merveilleux – Milk or dark chocolate filled with coffee ganache.

Europe – Dark or milk chocolate filled with rum filling.

Ganache – Milk or dark chocolate with pure ganache.

Tosca – Milk chocolate with a special ganache.

Poésie – Dark chocolate and a Cointreau filling.

Antoinette – Delicate caramel hints in the milk chocolate coating mingle nicely with the vanilla filling.

Eve – Milk or dark chocolate with a creamy dreamy banana filling.

Alexandre le grand – A milk or dark chocolate with caramel cream.

Also Recommended:

If you wish to also try the Napolitains, I’d suggest the 1 pound sampler Ballotin with six varieties. You may also want to look for the new Palet d’Or. A deeply delicious and strong bitter chocolate filled with ganache. The center is made with butter, cream and chocolate and the outer coating is a masterpiece with gold decorations.

Leonidas now has over 1700 stores and sales locations worldwide and they offer over 80 varieties of fresh chocolates. The chocolates are air freighted weekly from Brussels so you will always find the quality to be superior.

My chocolates arrived fast and were as fresh as if I had purchased them in Belgium. They were carefully packaged in the famous gold boxes with signature/seasonal wrapping and a ribbon. The boxes were then placed in protective Styrofoam containers to protect the chocolates during shipping. The expedited shipping is recommended from May to early September.

Heavenly chocolate, Review By leelee (Chicago, IL)

Outstanding melt in your mouth chocolate. The dark chocolate is not bitter like many chocolatiers – it has the perfect blend of taste for any chocoholic. I’ve had many different types of chocolate from Belgium and can guarantee – Leonidas is the “Mercedes-Benz” of chocolatiers. The general assortment is an outstanding sampling of ivory, milk and dark chocolate. If you love dark chocolate then go for the dark chocolate assortment. You will not regret it. Also forget Godiva – it’s medium grade quality.

For More Reviews, Click Here

Leonidas is rated No.3 in our “Top 12 Most Delicious Chocolate for Valentine’s Day 2011“

Made from only the finest cacao beans harvested from chocolate plantations in Venezuela, Ecuador, Madagascar and Mexico, Pierre Marcolini chocolates are simple and elegant, many displaying nothing more than the signature name on them. Pierre stands by the phrase, “less is more,” and lets the outstanding quality and exquisite taste of his chocolate speak for itself.

Marcolini creates more than 60 delicious varieties of bonbons with a variety of exotic flavours and bouquets. These exquisite bonbon flavours include:

• Baies Roses – Moroccan pink pepper berries in a bitter ganache.
• Au Citron – fresh lemon and zesty lime with an infusion of bergamot.
• Caraibe Grand Cru – Bitter 72% ganache combined with vanilla pods.

In addition to his delicious single origin chocolate bars, bonbons, truffles and pralines, Pierre Marcolini’s specialty is Calin Fondant, almond flour crisps with caramel and vanilla covered in creamy chocolate. Marcolini also creates a number of beautiful gift assortments and seasonal collections. Included in his Ephemeral Winter Collection are mouth-watering flavours such as chestnut and nutmeg, cinnamon and apple, blackberry and Szechuan pepper, pear and oak, and melon and pear. The Ephemeral Summer Collection includes such exquisite flavours as basil and olive oil enrobed in a rich white chocolate. All of Marcolini’s assortments and chocolate collections are elegantly packaged in beautiful black boxes designed by the Belgian luxury leather designer Delvaux.

Pierre Marcolini Truffles

Pierre Marcolini’s truffles collection is simply too good not to mention. Some of the delightful creations in Marcolini’s European truffle selection include:

• Truffe du Jour – A chocolate ganache rolled generously in a fine cocoa powder.
• Truffe Brésilienne – A Caraibe ganache in an almond praline dipped in creamy milk chocolate and rolled in caramelised almonds.
• Truffe Whisky – A milk and dark chocolate combined with Glenmorangie single malt Scotch rolled generously in powdered cocoa.
• Truffe Champagne – A milk chocolate centre infused with Saint Martin D’Ablois Champaign enrobed in creamy chocolate and coated in powdered sugar.
• Truffe Verveine – A dark chocolate centre combined with lemon verbena.
• Truffe Tonka – A creamy caramel centre combined with spicy vanilla from the South American Tonka bean and sprinkled with roasted cocoa nibs.

Pierre Marcolini is rated No.2 in our “Top 12 Most Delicious Chocolate for Valentine’s Day 2011“

Where to Buy: http://www.marcolini-eboutique.com/en-gb/create-personalised-chocolate-box

Check out the review of Pierre Marcolini’s fantastic selection box.