The ever-coveted kiss.

The Hershey’s chocolate, I mean. It’s the most thrilling of the two kisses anyway.

According to a study by David Lewis of Mindlab International, chocolate is more pleasurable and stimulating than any run-of-the-mill kiss you receive from that special someone.

“Chocolate caused a more intense and longer lasting ‘buzz’ than kissing, and doubled volunteers’ heart rates,” according to a BBC article on Lewis’s research.

It’s all because of phenylethylamine, a chemical in chocolate that raises the endorphins in the consumer’s body, therefore raising pleasure.

So on this Valentine’s Day, give your special someone what their brain really wants: chocolate.
But please, no Hershey’s. Not even See’s. Or Godiva.

Romance requires creativity, so why go for the mass-produced norm when you can go for the richer, tastier, local alternative?


Set in historic Folsom (731 Sutter St.) and established in 1963, Snook’s offers old-fashioned charm.

The interior of Snook’s is split in two: the customer area and the “factory.” A glass wall separates these rooms, so customers can peer in on employees making brittles, truffles and other confections.

The chocolates are moderately priced—$8.75 for six.

Chocolate aside, Snook’s features honeycomb, a crispy foam candy made of white and brown sugar that they based off of an old-fashioned recipe.

It has a flavor similar to butterscotch, and when enveloped in a layer of chocolate, it makes for one sweet surprise.

Another Snook’s favorite of mine is the amaretto truffle.

Amaretto, the sweet, almond-flavored, Italian liqueur, is meant to be infused into chocolate and Snook’s amaretto truffle proves just that.

My final recommendation, one of Snook’s most popular chocolates, is the “Snooker Bar.” Think of a Snickers bar, but fresher and higher in quality.


For those who like large, rich chocolates that you may not be able to finish in one go, Capital Confections (2605 El Paseo Lane) is your place.

The shop is hidden in the Town and Country Village, but the shop interior is filled with shelves and displays of award-winning confections.

In fact, taste testers from the Sacramento Bee decided Capital Confections had the best truffles of six other chocolatiers.

After tasting their dark and milk chocolate truffles, I could see why they had developed such a reputation.

They weren’t fancy by any means, but they were delicious. Deep, slightly bitter, and exceedingly rich, just one of these golf ball-size truffles is enough to satisfy anyone’s craziest chocolate cravings.

Having already had Snook’s outstanding amaretto truffle, I felt I had to try Capital Confections’ version as well.

Theirs had an even greater ratio of ganache to amaretto flavor, perfect for those who want chocolate to be the star of every sweet.

For the adventurous, try the popular chili truffle.

Often, chili-infused chocolates are just ganache with a sharp spiciness that sits in the back of your throat.

I liked Capital Confections’ version because the chili flavor was mellow. The truffles are well-priced—$10 for four, which is fair because the truffles are large.


I’d say Snook’s and Capital Confections are tied for overall taste and quality, but I did save the best for last.

Ginger Elizabeth (1801 L St.) is a true chocolate boutique. Walking in, I knew I was in a high-end shop.

The Palet d’Or truffle, a best-seller, is a chocolate-coated, flawless ganache topped with a piece of gold leaf (very romantic).

The pistachio chocolate, with pistachio brittle, did not disappoint my palate either. It lacked that heavy pistachio flavor and instead had a lighter, almost floral taste, which I found very refreshing.

Truffles aside, Ginger Elizabeth has a knack for another traditional sweet: the Parisian macaron.
From salted caramel to yuzu poppyseed, each one of them is to die for.

The yuzu poppyseed macaron had a clear flavor of each. First, I could taste poppyseed; then yuzu flavor added in to make the perfect harmony.

Yuzu, a relatively unknown fruit, is an Asian hybrid citrus with a refreshing taste like a mix between lemon and orange. And, when joined with the rich butteriness of the poppyseed and the chewy macaron base, it is nothing short of divine.

But be careful: wallets empty quickly at Ginger Elizabeth.

A six-piece chocolate box is $12, and that massive Deluxe Hat Box, complete with all the essential confections (such as assorted chocolates, candied almonds, cookies, and hot chocolate mix) will cost you $175.

But considering the quality of Ginger Elizabeth chocolates, it’s worth the cash every time.