Is a Valentine’s Day Different varieties of chocolate to give

Valentine’s Day is a special day when thoughts turn to love and romance. Couples contemplating tying the knot may feel like Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to pop the question and begin their journeys toward marriage.

Even though Valentine’s Day is a very popular day to propose, it’s tricky to keep such a proposal from becoming a cliché. By considering some dos and don’ts, Valentine’s Day proposals can be unique.

DO ensure that you’re both on the same page. It’s one thing for couples who have already been talking about marriage to build on the romance of Valentine’s Day with a proposal. But it’s quite another if this is a push to wow him or her and you don’t have the same goals; it may not go according to plan.

Couples are urged to have honest conversations about key topics (i.e., children, compatibility, finances, living arrangements) to see if marriage is a desire they both share.

DON’T overlook the element of surprise for the proposal. Sure it is easy to have a waiter bring the ring after a meal at a favourite restaurant, but it can be even more special to catch your sweetheart off guard. Why not propose before you get to the restaurant, such as in front of where you first met, and then you can enjoy your meal without butterflies?

DO consider your sweetheart’s personality before the proposal. A shy person may not like the attention of a crowd. However, someone who loves to be the centre of attention may feel that more is merrier.

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Chocolate is a popular gift on Valentine’s Day. According to the Nielsen Company, Valentine’s Day is the third busiest holiday for chocolate sales, following Halloween and Easter.

More than 70 million pounds of chocolate are purchased each year and offered as Valentine’s Day gifts. Chocolate connoisseurs can learn more about the different types of chocolate to find the one their loved one will find most appealing.

• Milk chocolate: Milk chocolate is produced with low levels of cocoa and high amounts of sugar and milk. In addition, it contains cocoa butter and chocolate liquor. Milk chocolate often is made up of 3.39% butterfat, 10% chocolate liquor and 12% milk solids.

• Semi-sweet chocolate: Semi-sweet chocolate is largely an American creation and term. It contains at least 35% cocoa solids and is darker than sweet dark chocolate. The amount of sugar varies across brands.

• Bittersweet chocolate: Bittersweet chocolate typically contains at least 50% chocolate liquor, but some will have between 70 and 80%. The sugar content is unregulated, so one manufacturer’s bittersweet may not be as bitter as another’s.

• Baking chocolate: Also known as bitter chocolate, this is pure chocolate liquor made from ground cocoa beans. It may look like chocolate, but it is used in recipes where it is combined with sugar. It should not be eaten on its own.

• White chocolate: White chocolate has cocoa butter but no chocolate liquor or cocoa products. Therefore, it is not truly chocolate.

• Candy coating chocolate: This has no cocoa butter and uses vegetable or palm oils in the recipe. It often is used in dipping or enrobing because of its excellent melting ability.

• Couverture chocolate: In the U.S., the ideal standard for couverture chocolate involves a minimum of 35% cocoa solids and 31% cocoa butter. This chocolate is tempered and used when coating ingredients or dipping items in chocolate.

Chocolate shines on Valentine’s Day. Gift givers can select a chocolate variety that appeals most to their recipients’ palates.