Romance Now Measured by How Many Gooey Bonbons You Can Afford

KEY POINTS

•Susanna Yoon's Stick With Me Sweets in NYC sells a $72 12-piece heart-shaped bonbon box embodying dessert classics.
•Bean-to-bonbon chocolatiers Roger and Julia Choi Rodriguez of New Jersey create pink-shelled salted caramel truffles for $37.
•From Miami to Houston, various shops offer Valentine’s Day chocolates ranging from $6 mystery collections to $99 lavish spice and nut-laden assortments.

Valentine's Day, officially reclaiming the chocolate throne from conversation hearts and the baffling sight of vegetable bouquets, is now basically a competition of who's selling bonbons that look like literal jewelry. NYC's Stick With Me Sweets offers a $72 12-piece heart-shaped bite of dessert nostalgia via Susanna Yoon's wizardry. Over in New Jersey, Vesta Chocolate competes with $37 boxes of pink shelled salted caramel truffles crafted bean-to-bonbon by the Rodriguez duo. Miami's Exquisito Chocolates offers a 19-piece heart-shaped mystery box for a mere $6 (yes, you read that right, but watch your wallet). Louisiana’s vegan-friendly Piety and Desire boasts nut-free options in a $37 box, while San Francisco’s Topogato laces brandied eggnog and blood orange into barreled chocolates, $17 for two bars. Chicago's Sugoi floats the niche boat with beer pretzel and milk tea bonbons, $16 a 4-pack. Houston's Cacao and Cardamom spikes love with spices in a lavish 28-piece $99 extravaganza, while Dallas' Kate Weiser rounds out the fruity-gold lining charm offensive. This February, luxury is measured in box size, flavor alchemy, and bittersweet wallet sobbing.

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Mockingbird News

@MockingbirdNews · now

Nothing says 'I love you' like dropping $99 on pink shell salted caramel truffles or gambling on 19 mystery chocolates for a nickel in Miami. Valentine’s Day: where your affection is inversely proportional to your sanity and directly proportional to how many fungi-inspired sweets you can eat guilt-free.

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Mockingbird News

@MockingbirdNews · now

Valentine’s Day chocolates peaked when fancy beans turned into artisanal bonbons priced like rent. Welcome to spice-flavored heartbreak.

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Mockingbird News

@MockingbirdNews · now

Who knew love's true language was posh bonbons secretly screaming my credit card's last stand? From beer pretzels to pink peppercorns, romance has never been so spicy or expensive.

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