Sweets for your sweet

Giving chocolates on Valentines doesn't have to be boring. Sarah Hanson goes in search of some of the more unusual choices to woo your loved one this February 14th

Paul A Young
Hailed as “the Heston Blumenthal of chocolate” by The Times, Young is a bit of an experimentalist, making chocolates such as the marmite chocolate and the stilton chocolate all on site at his chocolaterie in Islington. The marmite chocolate proved so popular with his customers that Young has kept it on the menu. Perfect for chocolate connoisseurs or if you just want to give something a bit different. Costs are £15.95 for a box of 12, £19.95 for a medium box (aprox 18), £35 for a large box (aprox 30). www.payoung.net

Melt
Forget for a moment the legendary truffles (or maybe you can pick up a box of Maldon sea-salted caramel truffles for yourself), for Valentine’s Day Melt is offering hollow chocolate hearts inside which one of its chocalatiers will place your own personal, private message and/or present, such as some jewellery or a pair of cufflinks. Visit the Melt store or go to Selfridges from 10 February. A medium chocolate heart is £16 or the large is £21. www.meltchocolates.com

Montezuma’s
Set up by ex-City lawyers Helen and Simon Pattinson, Montezuma’s produces innovative flavours and shapes including dried mango dipped in white chocolate, Montezuma’s revenge – a dark chocolate truffle blended with lime, chilli and tequila, sweet paprika and strawberry. www.montezumas.co.uk

Demarquette
Although it only opened last year, chocolatier Marc Demarquette and his team have already won four awards. For Valentine’s Day, they believe there is no better way to say “I love you” than with some luxury, hand-made chocolate hearts. For that extra special gift, they will even hand-seal engagement rings or special love-notes into unique Valentine’s hearts by appointment at the boutique on Fulham Road. www.demarquette.com

L'artisan du Chocolat
L'artisan du Chocolat is well known for teaming up with other artisans to create something different. A few years ago in collaboration with Heston Blumenthal, it created tobacco chocolate, which when you eat it has a tickling effect at the back of the throat as the nicotine goes into the gums. This year, L'artisan du Chocolat and Shaun Leane have combined for Valentines Day to create Hook my Heart—a bejeweled box filled with an assortment of plain and passion fruit truffles decorated with a pink gem finish. Hiding in its lid is a pink mother of pearl heart, silver necklace and hook. This limited edition gift is available online at www.artisanduchocolat.com and at their London store, from 22 January. The box of chocolate gems and necklace cost £59.50 and a box of gems on its own costs £17.00.

Chococo
If you can’t be bothered to tramp the streets tracking down the prefect Valentine’s Day chocolate, then Chococo will send you some of its award-winning fresh chocolates direct to your door. Chococo claims to be passionate about proper chocolate, purity, provenance and freshness. But forget Belgium or Switzerland. All the chocolates are made in Swanage, Dorset using as many local and fairtrade ingredients as possible. As you might expect from a husband and wife team, there’s a vast array of special Valentine’s Day selections. www.chococo.co.uk