Best chocolate overall. L.A. Burdick *Est. $28
Best gourmet chocolate for connoisseurs. Recchiuti Confections *Est. $83
Best American-style chocolate candy. Bridgewater Chocolate *Est. $35
Best caramels. Frans Chocolates *Est. $48
Best truffles. Candinas *Est. $33
Budget chocolate candy. Fannie May *Est. $23

See All Chocolate

Candinas

*Est. $33 for 25 truffles

Best truffles.

Excellent flavors
Nice packaging
Reasonable shipping costs

Can't choose flavors
No guide to the chocolates in each box

Our Analysis

Reviewers call Candinas the best value in chocolate truffles. Unlike cocoa-dusted French truffles, these candies are covered in a thin chocolate shell. The fillings are soft and creamy; in fact, more than one reviewer says that you have to take care when eating these truffles, lest the gooey filling wind up on your chin. They are only sold only at Candinas' Wisconsin shop and through its website, ensuring freshness. The only downside is that the company changes flavors so often that they don't provide a printed guide to every chocolate in each box. If you're looking for traditional, French-style truffles, reviews point to XOX Truffles (*est. $30 for 30 truffles). If truffles are not your style, reviewers recommend the salted chocolate-covered caramels from Fran's Chocolates (*est. $48 for 35 caramels).

We found reviews for Candinas in Consumer Reports, the Rosengarten Report, and Eric Postpischil's website. The Washington Post, NPR, and USA Today have also tested these truffles. David Rosengarten is by far the most ambitious reviewer: he tests a whopping 700 chocolates before selecting his favorites.

Our Sources

1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe

Editors test 20 boxed chocolates ranging in price from $8 to $97 per box. They group recommended chocolates into two categories: "for traditionalists" and "for adventurous tastes." "Traditional" chocolates are usually truffles, while the more exotic chocolates have more unusual fillings, such as herbs, spices, and purees of fruits not usually found in boxed chocolate.

Review: Dandy Candy, Editors of Consumer Reports, Feb. 2008

2. The Rosengarten ReportDetails/Subscribe

David Rosengarten, a TV program host on The Food Network and a former writer for Gourmet, selects seven brands of chocolates from a pool of 700 confections from 28 international chocolatiers. Candinas is rated "good," but not "very good" or "ultimate."

Review: Forget the Seven Deadly Sins: Behold the Seven Best Chocolates in America, David Rosengarten, Sept. 3, 2001

3. Eric's Site

Eric Postpischil has reviewed over 90 chocolate makers in the United States, France and Germany at his personal website. Most receive brief write-ups that highlight particular confections. Postpischil particularly likes the Candinas nut pieces.

Review: Chocolate Store Reviews, Eric Postpischil

4. The Washington Post

Erin Hartigan teams with chocolate-shop owner Ginger Park to test eight brands of chocolate. Although we're glad that Hartigan provides shipping costs along with the chocolate prices, her reviews are brief. Her top picks include Candinas.

Review: Taste Test: Valentine's Day Chocolates by Mail, Erin Hartigan

5. USA Today Magazine

Shawn Sell and Tish Boyle, editor-in-chief of Chocolatier magazine, pick ten of the best "boutique chocolates" available by mail order. These include Candinas. According to Boyle, the caramel truffle, "with a semi-liquid, oozing filling" is "messy, but oh-so-good."

Review: Ten Great Places to Buy Mom the Very Best Chocolate, Shawn Sell, May 5, 2005

6. NPR

Melody Joy Kramer and a panel of NPR employees blind-tested 30 brands of chocolate, selecting ten winners including Candinas. The truffles are "romantic" and "delicious," say testers.

Review: A Bittersweet Guide to the Best V-Day Chocolate, Melody Joy Kramer, Feb. 5, 2007