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Cupid Puts Chocolates To Taste Test

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By JAN NORRIS Cox News Service

Published: February 13, 2008

Playing Cupid this year with a box of chocolates? Before you buy, you might want to see what newlyweds say about popular brands.

We asked four recently hitched couples to do a blind tasting of chocolates and candies popular at Valentine's Day. Fillings ranged from mousses to ganaches, nuts, fruits and even chocolate-chip cookie dough.

So which ones had them saying, "I do" (choose these)?

The answers might surprise you.

Lindt Classics Fine Chocolate Assortment

Size, cost: 6.4 ounces; $12.99 at Target; available at supermarkets and drugstores

What's in them: Milk gourmet truffle; hazelnut gourmet truffle, white gourmet truffle; milk caramel chew; milk pecan caramel classic (turtle); milk cream white heart
Presentation: Cardboard heart-shaped box with gold ribbon
Score: 6

Judges' comments: "Caramel was sweet and flavorful." "Silky texture." "Chocolate is smooth on palate; not too strong." One dissenter wrote: "Tastes like taffy. Nuts were fresh-tasting, however."
Godiva Chocolates
Size, cost: 7.4 ounces; $26 at Godiva shop

What's in them: Pralines, ganache-filled, caramels, truffles in white, milk or dark chocolate

Presentation: Signature gold box tied with red ribbon rose that can be removed and worn as a pin. Heart-shaped boxes available.

Score: 7.8

Judges' comments: "Dark chocolate was smooth; raspberry center very good." "Rich, fresh tasting; filling tastes like real raspberries." "Silky. Very good chocolate, sweet, creamy and salty all in one." "Fancy shapes have eye appeal."

Ghirardelli Chocolate Premium Chocolate Assortment Squares

Size, cost: 7.51 ounces; $9.99 at Target

What's in them: Individually wrapped milk chocolate with caramel filling, 60 percent cacao dark chocolate, dark chocolate with mint, dark chocolate with raspberry.

Presentation: Red-and-white cardboard box
Score: 6.5

Judges' comments: "Solid, smooth." "Dark chocolate not as smooth as mint." "Raspberry filling gritty, but good flavor." "Fresh-tasting. Smooth chocolate."

Russell Stover Private Reserve Assorted Chocolates

Size, cost: 12 ounces; $19.99 at Target and drugstores

What's in them: Raspberry cordial center with 70 percent cacao dark chocolate shell; almond nougat in milk chocolate; raspberry caramel in white chocolate. Signature chocolate, almond cream center in milk chocolate; hazelnut praline in milk chocolate

Presentation: Woven satin and velvet ribbon-covered red, heart-shaped box

Score: 6.3

Judges' comments: "Great taste of chocolate, smooth." "Silky cherry center." "Chocolate slightly brittle and chocolate layer is too thin." "Coffee filling was too strong." "Raspberry nice, but too soupy. Caramel too hard."

Mrs. Fields' Premium Assorted Chocolates

Size, cost: 14-ounce box, $9.99 at Target

What's in them: Peanut butter dream, dark butter caramel, Debra's Special raisin-nut caramel, dark coconut raisin-nut caramel, chocolate-chip cookie dough

Presentation: Red heart-shaped metal tin stamped with Mrs. Fields' name

Score: 4.75

Judges' comments: "Nondescript." "Just average." "Chocolate left an aftertaste; but smooth." "Hard centers; caramel was smooth, though."

Whitman's Sampler Assorted Chocolates

Size, cost: 14.8 ounces; $9.99 at Target; available also at drugstores

What's in them: Assorted fillings - fruits, creams, nuts - in milk and dark chocolate

Presentation: Red cellophane-wrapped, heart-shaped cardboard box
Score: 4.5

Judges' comments: "Tasted cheap." "Stiff filling, tastes like plastic." "Creamy peanut butter, but didn't taste great." "Like the bite-sized pieces; nuts are wonderful."

Dove Dark Chocolate Collection

Size, cost: 6.36 ounces, $9.99 at Target; available also at drugstores

What's in them: Caramel, truffle heart, orange mousse, strawberry mousse, almond cluster

Presentation: Red heart-shaped cardboard box
Score: 3.9

Judges' comments: "Stale - tastes old." "Spent lots of time on the conveyor belt in some factory." "Caramel was good." "Chocolate has an underlying berry flavor." "Is there rum in it?"

Choxie Belgian Flakey Truffle Duo

Size and cost: 7 ounces; $10 at Target (other varieties avaiable exlclusive to Target)

What's in them: Chocolate truffle insides enrobed in dark or milk chocolate and sprinkled with dark or milk chocolate flakes

Presentation: Cardboard cube fold-out box decorated with hearts and dots, tied with satin ribbon

Score: 2.9

Judges' comments: "Rich fudgy taste, but mushy, melted mess in box." "Way too soft. Messy to eat." "Too milklike; not enough chocolate taste."

Queen Anne Milk Chocolate Cordial Cherries

Size, cost: 13.2 ounces; $9.99 at Target, drugstores

What's in them: Milk chocolate-covered (real) cherries with cream filling

Presentation: Deep red cardboard heart-shaped box

Score: 2.9

Judges' comments: "Tastes like bubble-gum toothpaste!" "Center was too gooey." "Bitter at first, but palatable finish." "Visions of Grandma chasing you with cherry Pepto Bismol!"

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