It probably comes as no surprise that the first step to making a really good box of chocolates is to use really high quality chocolate. Here are a few ways you can suss out quality, without an advanced chocolate degree.
Good chocolate is glossy.
Avoid any chocolates that are dull or dusty. The chocolate likely bloomed, meaning that the crystalline structure of the chocolate has gone out of whack due to storage issues. This happens to all chocolate eventually, so if you have good chocolate it’s best to eat it within a few months or so. After chocolate blooms, it’s not unsafe to eat, but it has a gritty, dry texture and the flavor is diminished.
Good chocolate has a nice snap to it.
Cheaper chocolate is waxier. It bends before it breaks. (You can try an experiment to see this for yourself: get a good, bean-to-bar chocolate bar and a Hershey’s bar, and try breaking off a square of each. Pay attention: how does each chocolate feel? How does it sound?) After that initial snap, better chocolate should melt evenly on your tongue. By contrast, poorer quality chocolate often feels sticky or tacky in your mouth.
Good chocolate has full, complex flavor.
It should complement the flavor of any fillings, and the flavor should last in your mouth for a long, long time.
Fillings also matter!
What you put inside of a chocolate bonbon is just as important as the chocolate itself. Sometimes, that means focusing on just one filling. When you have something really special, like the extraordinary aromatic citrus of Calabria in southern Italy or the notably rich and nutty walnuts of Périgord in southwestern France, a coating of good chocolate can make them swoon-worthy. That’s not to say you can’t find good boxes of chocolate that have mixed flavors – a few of our favorite chocolatiers making great assortments are J. Patrice, Chocolat Moderne, and Grocer’s Daughter.
Check the ingredient list.
It’s always a good bet to look at the ingredient list when you’re evaluating any food. Boxes of chocolate are no exception. Artificial ingredients like vanillin are suspect, as are any unpronounceable ingredients. One exception is soy lecithin, which is widely used by excellent chocolatiers in very small amounts to help the chocolate keep a smooth texture. You generally want to avoid added fats, too, though you’ll want to make an exception if there’s a cookie or caramel component to a filling where butter might be in play.
Don’t hang onto them for too long.
Store chocolates at room temperature away from the potential melting power of sunlight. Try to eat them within a few weeks – or a couple of months, tops.