Holiday Chocolate Guide: Godiva

Whether you wish to buy Godiva as a gift, or keep it to yourself, there is no better time to buy. During the Holiday season, gift baskets are widely available at fairly low prices. Ranging from $3.50 to $325.00, an indulgence for every budget is available.

What makes Godiva so great, you ask? Godiva Chocolatier began in Brussels, Belgium, over 75 years ago. Over those 75 years, the Godiva Corporation perfected the world famous art of Belgian Chocolate Making. The higher prices reflect not only the efforts going in to the product, but also the quality of the ingredients being used.

Where to begin? The most basic gift set is a small two piece stocking stuffer. It is called the Gold Ballotin (.75 oz). It features two milk chocolates for $3.50. For an additional $3.00 ($6.50), a four piece Gold Ballotin will come with one Dark Chocolate Ganache Bliss, one Milk Chocolate Praline Heart, one Dark Chocolate Embrace, and one White Chocolate Raspberry Star (1.6 oz total). Both of these come in an elegant golden silk box with the Godiva name and Crest on the front.

There are to basic gift sets, both costing $45.00 each. The first is called the Chocolate Care Package Tower. Believe it or not, this only contains eight pieces of actual chocolate: a Gold Ballotin set. However, it also comes with a Milk and Dark Chocolate Cocoa Sampler, as well as their new hand made Chocolate Chunk Brownies (2 lb 0.5 oz. total).

The other is called the Godiva Gems Gift Basket. It features 12 pc. Milk Chocolate Truffle Gems, 18 pc. Dark Chocolate Solid Gems, 12 pc. Milk Chocolate Caramel Gems, and a package each of Milk Chocolate Strawberries, Dark Chocolate Almonds, a solid Milk Chocolate Bar, Dark Chocolate Bar, and White Chocolate Bar (1 lb. 2.6 oz. total). Both gift sets are tied with signature ribbon.

The Chocolate for Breakfast Gift Basket offers an interesting venue for chocolate: Breakfast! How often have you reverted back to the childhood desire to have dessert in the morning? Here is your opportunity. This $85.00 gift basket has no basket at all. All of the items are placed in a large blue mixing bowl. Milk and Dark Chocolate Cocoa Sampler, Buttermilk Pancake Mix, Raisin Scone Mix, Wild Maine Blueberry Jam, Organic Savannah Bee Acacia Honey, Godiva Premium Roast Coffee, Chocolate Crème Coffee, an 8-pc. Gold Ballotin and 8 ounces of Dark Chocolate pieces (4 lb 8.5 oz total) fill the bowl to help you start you're morning the right way: With Chocolate.

For those who wish for holiday themed chocolate, the Winter Treasures Gift Basket is a perfect match. With $100.00, you receive 16 pc Limited Edition Holiday Chocolate Assortment, 8 pc Gold Ballotin, 8 pc Truffle Gift Box, 16 pc Limited Edition Candy Cane Crunch, 12 pc Godive Gems Milk Chocolate Truffles, 12 pc Godiva Gems Dark Chocolate Caramels, Solid Dark Chocolate Bar, and a Solid Milk Chocolate Bar (2 lb, 1.55 oz total).

The most extravagant set of all weighs in at 7 lb 8.15 ounces. The Chocolate Premiere Signature Gift Tower contains 140 pc Gold Ballotin, 18 pc Truffle Gift Box, 36 pc Biscuit Gift Box, 27 pc Dark Chocolate Assortment, 12 pc Dark Truffle Gift Box, 15 pc Milk Chocolate Assortment, 8 pc Gold Ballotin, 4 pc Truffle Gift Box, and 4 pc Gold Ballotin. All of this can be yours for the price of $325.00.

One idea for justifying a purchase of a $325.00 gift tower is that forming smaller gifts becomes a breeze. Each set in the tower is individually boxed. If you were to purchase the Chocolate Premiere Signature Gift Tower, 9 separate gifts become available. That is, if you can stand to part with any of them.

The Godiva Website, www.godiva.com, has a complete listing and ordering information. I have found that these prices, even with shipping, tend to be cheaper than most department stores that sell Godiva. Godiva has made its name known the world over for a reason: excellence. If you are new to fine chocolates, or if you are a connoisseur, Godiva has something for you.