Valentine’s Day is practically upon us- have you gotten your sweetie a gift yet? One of the most cliche and frequently given gifts is a big ol’ box of chocolates. How did this tradition even start?

Well, the idea of chocolate being a gift is a concept we could date back all the way to the Aztecs and Mayans, who believed that cocoa beans were literally a gift from the gods for humans to enjoy. Cocoa beans were seen as valuable as gold! There are even rumors that one of the first gifts given to Columbus from the natives was a basket of chocolates. Once chocolate made its way to Europe, it quickly became popular among royalty and other people with enough money to actually get chocolate! When Anne of Spain and King Louis XIII of France were married in 1615, Anne’s wedding gift to her new husband was a chocolate drink from the New World. Everyone who was wealthy loved getting their hands on some of the deliciousness that is chocolate.

Luckily, nowadays we don’t have to be royalty or have lots of money to enjoy this sweet treat ;). But why do we give chocolate on Valentine’s Day? The credit goes to Robert Cadbury, who created the first box of chocolates in 1853. Taking advantage of the gift-giving spirit of Valentine’s Day, in 1861 these boxes of chocolates were sold in pretty boxes and promoted as a great gift for your sweetie for Valentine’s- a tasty treat, plus a beautiful box that could be used once the chocolate was gone for holding love letters, etc. And thus the tradition was born.

It’s easy to find a box of chocolates- these days there are so many manufacturers! The question is, if you’re really looking to spoil your loved one, what’s the BEST box of chocolates?

I took a survey of 273 women, asking this exact question. And here’s the results:

40% See’s Candies

23% Lindt

15% Ferrero Rocher

6% Had no preference- give me all the chocolate!

6% Dove Chocolate

4% Godiva

3% Would prefer NOT getting chocolate at all

1% Russell Stover

1% Mrs. Cavanaugh’s

1% Hershey’s Pot of Gold

As you can see- See’s Candies was by far the most popular option. They’re pricey- but your sweetheart is definitely worth splurging on every once in awhile ;). The other thing to consider is the personal tastes of your sweetie. Some women mentioned that the only chocolates they would eat were fruity ones (like orange creams, cherry cordials, etc), while other women mentioned that they would eat anything BUT the fruit flavored ones. And of course, there are some women (such as myself ;) ) that just love having the variety to choose from.

At the end of the day, it would be hard to go wrong with a box of See’s chocolates, but you know your sweetheart better than anyone! If they’re happy with a box of Russel Stovers chocolates, save the money and get her chocolates AND flowers- or whatever makes her (or his!) heart sing. The important thing is to remember to do something this Valentine’s Day to show your loved one that they are your favorite person in the world :).

I’d love to hear from you guys! What’s your favorite brand of boxed chocolates? Are you picky when it comes to flavors, or do you like a variety? Share with us below!