Gift Giving Guy

I can’t imagine Valentine’s Day without chocolate. Sure, you might be allergic, or worse, suffer from xocolatophobia, the fear of chocolate. But for anyone else, chocolate makes a great Valentine gift. About half of American adults (45.8 percent) will give confections this year, according to the National Retail Federation. Consumer Reports ranks the best chocolates, and the top treat comes from Candinas Chocolatier in my home state of Wisconsin.

• Candinas Chocolates (CR Best Buy, Excellent rating for traditionalists)

• John & Kira’s Every Flavor (Excellent rating for traditionalists)
• La Maison du Chocolat (Excellent rating for traditionalists)
• Martine’s Assortment du Jour (Excellent rating for traditionalists)
• Fran’s Assorted Truffles Collection (Excellent rating for traditionalists)
  
  
• Nonnie Waller’s Traditional Southern Treasure Chest Truffles (Excellent rating for traditionalists)
• Norman Love Confections (Excellent rating for adventurous tastes)
• Woodhouse Chocolate Assortment (Excellent rating for adventurous tastes)
• Jacques Torres Jacques’ Choice (Excellent rating for adventurous tastes)
• Godiva Gold Ballotin (CR Best Buy, Very Good rating)
• Leonidas Chocolate General Assortment (CR Best Buy, Very Good rating)
• See’s Famous Old Time Assorted (CR Best Buy, Very Good rating)