Sugar Savvy

The recent Fancy Food Show in San Francisco, California, gave me a lot of good ideas for Valentine’s Day gifts beyond the heart-shaped box for sweethearts of all types.

If your love is as multifaceted as rubies, pink sapphires and citrons, consider these wonderful fruit gems (or pate de fruit) in blood orange, white peach, grapefruit and passion fruit from Charles Chocolates.

Charles also makes some delectable and beautiful molded chocolates with wonderful fillings. For a gift that keeps on giving, consider enrolling your sweetie in the company’s chocolate of the month club.

If your love is the kind to last and last, I suggest a bouquet of Linda’s lollipops in your sweetie’s favorite flavors. Linda’s Lollies come in more than 50 flavors ranging from peanut butter chocolate to butterscotch caramel to amaretto.

If your love is more the ooey-gooey type, perhaps these treats from Pete’s Gourmet Marshmallows are more to your liking. These handmade, 100 percent natural marshmallows are also available dipped in Belgian chocolate. The Valentine’s Day offerings include nicely flavored cherry marshmallows.

If you like your love with a little spice, there are lots of chocolates flavored with chili on the market, but my favorite spiced sweet was Bequet Confection’s chipotle-flavored caramels. Tasting sweet then just a bit hot and not too soft and not too chewy, I kept coming back for samples of this new product.

If nothing but the best is good enough, Joseph Schmidt featured some of the most spectactular truffles and treats at the show.

Their Valentine’s Day line included all sorts of chocolate edible artwork, some in red or pastels with delicate floral or abstract “paintings.” One of their chocolate boxes would be an ideal hiding place for a more substantial present.

If you’re the type of Valentine that has trouble saying what you really mean, try New Tree’s miniature Belgian dark and milk chocolate bars. These nine gram bars are flavored with natural essences and extracts such as ginger, lavender, cinnamon, black currant, coffee and cherry to create a taste that creates a mood. Their chocolate flavors such as Sexy, Blush, Cocoon, Pleasure and, perhaps, Vigor, might just be what you need to help you deliciously convey your true feelings.

If your love bubbles over like good champagne, try the champagne truffles from L’Estasi Dolce. Made from real champagne, they feature smooth, creamy centers and a rich chocolate taste.

If love is just a game, maybe try one of Chocoholics sexy chocolate board games or chocolate body frosting sets. And if love has passed you by or in some other way left you vengeful, consider buying yourself the company’s Chocolate Voodoo Doll. Bite off an ear and see if you don’t feel better.

Please click the links to check with the manufacturers for retailers in your area.