Whitman Sampler

Dear S.Q. Married for 37 years to the love of my life. That means at least 40 Valentines, some with diamonds, others with traditional flowers and candy. Whitman Sampler was the gold standard, but it's horrible! This year, I bought a cheap sampler as a joke. How did we ever like this stuff?

Dear Chocolateer, Whitman’s been around for almost 200 years, so some credit is due. Ranked good: economic, decent variety, okay balance between sweet and moist. Ranked yucky: waxy, artificial fillings, inconsistent taste. The top three countries for best chocolate remain, Switzerland, Belgium, and France although many individual companies are award-winners you should sample. -SQ