My apologies to Forrest Gump, but the saying really should be “A box of chocolates is a lot like life—you never know what you’re going to get.” With so many different chocolate companies offering up boxes upon boxes of their wares, it can be hard to even know where to start. Your choice may be dependent on the flavors you like, the flavors the recipient likes (if you’re gifting), the occasion, and even your level of risk (there’s a lot of weird chocolate on the market now). Thankfully, my colleagues and I were willing to do the hard work of tasting loads and loads of chocolate in a conference room to make your life a little bit easier. In pursuit of the best chocolate in every category—from white to dark, fruit-flavored to caramel, and everything in between—these are the brands we’ve deemed to be the crème de la crème of cacao. Proceed with caution, because eating one single piece can quickly snowball into sampling the entire assortment. 

There's no doubt that the best chocolate brings joy, conveys love, heals heartache, and forges connections. I'm lucky enough to say that my career revolves around chocolate. I trained at the Culinary Institute of America, pursued further training at the Chocolate Academy, Chicago, and worked for years at EHChocolatier, a small-batch artisanal chocolate producer in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  

A box of delicious and distinctive chocolates is always a welcome treat. The boutique stores making the best chocolates in the USA not only produce amazing chocolates, they also deliver nationwide. Whether it’s Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, an anniversary, or a birthday, a box of chocolates is on par with sending flowers to show your special someone that you care.

These top US chocolate brands elevate their chocolate-making to an art, with elegant designs and amazing (and surprising) flavors, all made with premium ingredients. Picture a smooth, shiny bonbon with rich dark chocolate and deep coffee notes or a colorful square with a hint of BBQ or smooth bourbon. Want to try them all? Just place an order online. Warning: these mouthwatering bites of pure deliciousness might prove addictive.