Chocolate Gift Baskets
by Alexa
I have to admit something right here and now. I am a chocoholic. So I will find it difficult discussing this topic, chocolate gift baskets, without, well, departing my writing to taste the topic a little here and there.
If you know a chocolate lover and you’re considering some kind of gift basket… chocolate gift baskets are the only way to go! I cannot express how thrilling and heart-melting it is to receive a huge chocolaty bundle of joy. But before we wade into the rich, velvety chocolate of our gift basket, I suggest you gain a little better understanding of the world of chocolate. Read on to learn why I think this is an important when giving chocolate as a gift.
Some Chocolate History
Not too long ago, the BBC published a story which emphasized the benefits of dark chocolate to help maintain low blood pressure. Apparently the University of L’Aquila in L’Aquila, Italy, conducted a study which provided strong support for this relation and even included some positive data in support of milk chocolate.
While chocolate lovers all over the world are surely enjoying the rise of evidence suggesting the healthful benefits of chocolate, modern science is only rediscovering what the Aztecs already knew 600 years ago. The Aztecs had faith that a drink made from chocolate contributed to greater energy, longevity and overall vitality.
I doubt most modern chocolate lovers would find the Aztec drink very familiar, but their bitter, cold elixir was deeply cherished and reserved for royalty. The word chocolate comes from the Nahuatl word cacahuatl. Nahautl was the language of the Aztecs. When the Spanish encountered this civilization, the word cachautle became theobroma cacao, which can be translated to “food of the gods.” Clearly, those Aztecs had the proper appreciation for my beloved chocolate.
Believe it or not, I’m not just trying to bore you. When you give your chocolate gift basket, it might be a good idea to drop an interesting historical fact related to chocolate. Depending on the recipient, it might be an interesting conversation-starter and even most chocolate lovers aren’t actually all that aware of chocolate’s rich and interesting history. The more you talk about chocolate, the better it will taste. Trust me.
So let’s proceed to some tips and ideas on how to make the best possible mouth-watering cacao-rich gift basket.
So How Do I Make Chocolate Gift Baskets?
As I said in my article on how to make gift baskets, remember to think outside the basket. Chocolate gifts can be housed in all kinds of containers, so don’t just default to a simple wicker basket. You might even try things like big, bountiful-looking jars or create little (or big) towers of chocolate.
If you go with a basket or container of similar shape, I suggest using a shiny liner in colors such as gold, brown, beige or cream. These colors accentuate the rich, indulgent side of chocolate and will help get your recipient’s mouth watering. Commercial gift-wrapping tissue paper often comes in a gold color with a subtle sheen; this works great in most chocolate gift basket situations. A basket designed around a chocolate theme will likely feature a different color palette than you’ll find in most candy gift baskets.
One side note: Some of this may be perceived as “feminine” and not appropriate for men. Nonsense. There are plenty of chocolate-loving men out there, even if some of them don’t admit it. The sense of indulgence conveyed by gold colors and an over-flowing basket of cocoa goodies will appeal to most male chocolate lovers just as it would for women.
This isn’t always necessary, but I suggest some kind of non-consumable centerpiece for your basket. Some ideas:
A hearty, ceramic mug filled with a variety of high-quality cocoa people usually don’t by for themselves or on a regular basis. Or you might try a large, attractive chocolate cookbook with plenty of glossy, full color photos. Don’t worry, the recipient doesn’t have to be a chef. Just browsing through the pages, reading the ingredients and taking in the pretty, chocolaty pictures will make his or her mouth water and build his or her appetite for the goodies you’ve included with the basket.
A nice centerpiece item like this can then provide balance for the many smaller chocolate gifts you’re sure to find.
What Kind of Chocolate Should I Put In A Gift Basket?
Be sure to mix plenty of different types of items for variety. I suggest mixing variety in at least three of the four following areas:
- Different forms of chocolate, like chocolate bars, chocolate truffles, chocolate sauces, molded chocolates.
- Different types of chocolate, like milk chocolate, white chocolate, dark chocolate.
- Different chocolate flavor combinations, like chocolate-peanut butter, chocolate-mint or chocolate-orange. (Chocolate-orange, you might ask? Yes! Look for it!)
- Chocolate covered or related items, like chocolate-covered pretzels or chocolate chip cookies.
Most successful chocolate gift baskets feature one thing in common: variety!
Individually-wrapped chocolates, particularly elegantly-wrapped chocolate truffles, are fantastic for finishing a gift basket off. You can use different colored wrappers (usually for different flavors) to fill in a space here or add a little zest there. So when you’re filling your basket, always hold back some of the smaller, individually-wrapped items for the end.
Between this page on chocolate gift baskets and my tutorial on making gift baskets, you should have plenty of information to spark your creative heart. I really hope this helps, and remember, try to enjoy the process as much as possible! It will come through in your final gift basket’s appearance and quality.
[...] are, of course, candy gift baskets. However you might narrow that down further by emphasizing chocolate gift baskets. You can widen that to gourmet food baskets to include gourmet cheese and crackers along with [...]