Chocolate Gift Baskets

Chocolate is a food made from the beans of cocoa trees that are native to Central America.  The cocoa bean is intensely bitter on its own, but through a series of processes it comes to be the chocolate we know and love in the USA.  The middle of the cocoa bean is ground up into a non-alcoholic liquid known as chocolate liquor.  Cocoa butter is the fat extracted from the chocolate liquor.  Cocoa powder is the solid left after pressing the cocoa butter out of the liquor.  This powder may undergo a Dutch process, which reduces its acidity, making it into the cocoa that is best for hot chocolate.

Before purchasing a chocolate gift basket, become familiar with the varied types of chocolate that are used in chocolate foods and confections.  Gift baskets and boxes may include various types of chocolate, ranging from unsweetened chocolate, bittersweet chocolate, and semi-sweet chocolate to dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate.  Unsweetened chocolate, the solid form of chocolate liquor, is often used in baking.  Bittersweet chocolate is also most often used in baking; it has a minimum of 50% chocolate liquor, while semi-sweet chocolate contains a minimum of 35% chocolate liquor.  Dark chocolate contains only 15% chocolate liquor, as well as sweeteners and cocoa butter.  By far the sweetest of the darker chocolates, milk chocolate has at least 10% chocolate liquor and 12% milk solids mixed with sugar, vanilla, and cocoa butter.  White chocolate is made from cocoa butter, sugar, and milk solids; it lacks the brown color of other chocolates because it does not contain any cocoa solids.

Everyone loves receiving gourmet chocolate gifts, but chocolate varies in quality and taste because of recipe differences and the use of natural or artificial flavors.  The fine chocolatiers listed below offer a selection of chocolate confections and gift baskets for every occasion.

Chocolate Confectioners

• Godiva Chocolatier offers decadent gourmet chocolates.  Setting it apart from other chocolate brands, Godiva uses high quality ingredients to create the rich, smooth flavors they have become famous for.  From truffles, caramels, ganaches and gift baskets, Godiva has something for every taste.  Godiva chocolate is a popular gift for holidays, birthdays, and business occasions.
• Lake Champlain Chocolates are made in Vermont with all-natural ingredients.  Unlike many other chocolate brands, Lake Champlain chocolates are Kosher-certified and contain no preservatives that would compromise their flavor.
• Hauser Chocolates redefine the truffle using fine ingredients and unique flavors such as cinnamon, pear, and eggnog.  Sugar-free varieties are also available.  Hauser Chocolates look as delicious as they taste, and they make a great gift for any occasion.
• Nantucket Chocolatier infuses old family recipes with inspiration and fine ingredients.  Cranberry chocolates, whale-shaped truffles, and almonds, lightly roasted with sea salt and covered with dark chocolate, are just a sample of the unique confections offered by Nantucket Chocolatier.  Attractive gift packaging is available for chocolate gift orders.
• Bissinger's of St. Louis has been offering handcrafted chocolates made from original family recipes since 1845.  Bissinger's European-style specialty chocolates contain all natural ingredients; they include truffles, barks, and chocolate-dipped fruits.  Customer favorites include chocolate-covered blueberries and cashew toffee, but there are over 900 different confections to choose from!
• Hershey's is a name that has become synonymous with chocolate.  From their chocolate kisses and chocolate bars, to toys and collectibles, Hershey's has something for everyone and every occasion.  Many Hershey's products can also be personalized for parties, weddings and showers.

Related Websites

• Chocolate Shop explains the basics of chocolate and is a handy guide for chocolate lovers.  The website also provides links to select gourmet chocolate shops and makes it easy to find chocolate gifts for any occasion.
• Gourmet Gifts is a helpful guide to gourmet food gifts.  The site suggests gifts for various occasions and includes links to several online gourmet food gift shops.

Chocolate Gift Baskets - Gift Chocolates - Gourmet Chocolate Baskets