A Chocoholic’s Best Chocolates Quick Guide

With Valentine’s Day approaching quickly it’s only normal to start panicking about what to get for friends, family, and significant others. As this is my last semester at Penn and in Philadelphia, I am going to finally share with you guys my list of the best chocolates I’ve tasted that can be found in Philadelphia, which includes products from local chocolatiers and more well-known brands alike. Keep in mind that most of the items that make the cut are dark chocolate because that’s just how I roll.
(P.S: white chocolate is NOT real chocolate!)

1. Teuscher’s Dark Champagne Truffles (also available in milk chocolate)

PC: Teuscher

We are so incredibly lucky to have a Teuscher branch in Philly. Voted as the #1 chocolatier in the world by National Geographic, Teuscher stores around the world receive shipments from its Zurich headquarters weekly to ensure that customers always get fresh products. Brace yourselves when biting into the chocolate truffle shell to be washed away by explosive sensations as the creamy champagne center hits your taste buds and send you to paradise. Note that the dark champagne truffle is dusted with cocoa powder while the classic (milk) champagne truffle is coated with confectioner’s sugar.
The Philadelphia boutique is located at the Shops at The Bellevue (200 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103).

2. John & Kira’s Chocolate Figs

John & Kira's Chocolate Figs
John & Kira’s Chocolate Figs

These dried Calabacita figs are filled with a dark chocolate whiskey ganache and dipped in 62% Valrhona dark chocolate (note: Valrhona made #6 in National Geographic’s list of top 10 chocolatiers in the world!). You might want to buy an extra box just for yourself because it is that good. You can find J&K’s here.

PC: John & Kira’s

3. Éclat’s Caramels

PC: Éclat Chocolate

Named the “World’s Greatest Caramel” by Vogue, Éclat’s caramels are light, smooth, and certainly awaken your taste buds like never before. Each box comes with dark chocolate, milk chocolate, ginger, calvados, and pear caramels. Although Éclat’s boutique is a little far in West Chester, PA, you can still find some of its products at DiBruno Bros.

4. Vosges Blood Orange Caramel Chocolate Bar

PC: Vosges

If you love caramels and citrus flavors, this bar is for you. Made with 70% cocoa, this bar is filled with silky caramel composed of sweet blood orange puree, bitter orange liqueur, burnt sugar caramel, and tart hibiscus flower.
Voted as #2 in National Geographic’s list of top 10 chocolatiers around the world, Vosges-Haut Chocolat caters to your more explorative and adventurous side with its bold and exotic flavors. Even though this brand is based in Chicago, you can find Vosges chocolates all around the country at Whole Foods and at Di Bruno Bros. in Philadelphia.

5. John & Kira’s Tortoises

John & Kira's tortoises
Yet another caramel on this list as testament to how much I love caramels. In case you’re not familiar with tortoises, they’re basically nuts glued together by semi-solid caramel dipped in chocolate. The caramel inside a tortoise is not silky liquid caramel like that inside Éclat’s caramels and Vosges’ blood orange caramel bar, but rather a more solid and chewy caramel. J&K’s box of 12 tortoises comes with two delightful combinations: maple pecan and cinnamon cashew.

Notice the semi-solid caramel engulfing the cashew pieces
PC: John & Kira’s

6. Éclat’s PHL Pennsylvania Dutch Pretzel Bar

ÉCLAT's PHL Bar
This one is available in dark (54%) and milk (33%) chocolate, but even a dark chocolate lover like me still prefers the milk chocolate version. The combination of sweet milk chocolate and salty and crunchy pretzel bits is unparalleled. Great as gifts for people from outside of Pennsylvania.

-Tina Kartika

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