Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and whether you celebrate by sulking over cheesy rom-coms, or spending time with a significant other, chocolate is a must-have treat for every occasion. With extensive flavors and an aroma of sweet, buttery, melting cocoa, this refined dessert is a great go-to for anyone looking to spend the holiday with a night in. From classic truffles to high-end candy bars, here is a list of the best chocolate shops crafted in the Portland metropolitan area.
(Emily Baumann/The VanCougar)
Moonstruck Chocolate
Handcrafting chocolate since 1993, Moonstruck’s store is housed on 608 SW. Alder St., welcoming guests with glass shelves loaded with various chocolate sweets. Moonstruck sells items ranging from standard chocolate bars to decorative truffles. Not only does the shop sell bars with artistic etchings of their man-on-the-moon logo and cityscapes, but it also offers an impressive array of flavors. Our personal favorite is their Milk Chocolate Cinnamon bar consisting of roasted almonds, vanilla and a dash of cinnamon spice. As far as cost, Moonstruck lands at the expensive end of the spectrum, but still compares fairly against other gourmet chocolate, pricing each bar at $4 and some boxes of truffles at $12.50. Despite being 29 minutes from campus, chocolate from Moonstruck is guaranteed to add a touch of magic to any Valentine’s Day festivities.
Creo Chocolate
After several years of experimenting with various recipes and roasting cocoa beans, Creo Chocolate opened its workshop on the corner of 122 NE Broadway eight years ago, ready to share its small batches of specialty sweets. Creo sources its ingredients directly from small farmers, and uses them to create many truffles and bars to sample from, with flavors ranging from dark-toasted coconut to lemon pie white chocolate. The VanCougar recommends trying their Whiskey Milk Chocolate Bar for a slightly sweet dark chocolate infused with bitter malt whiskey. Creo’s is the priciest out of all three stores, marking its bars and small boxes of truffles from $9.50 to $12. Being another Portland location, the shop is a 23-minute drive from campus. However, Creo’s ranks high on the bar for taste, so for those wanting an unforgettable experience, this is the place for you.
See’s Candies
This old-school candy chain might be the most recognizable name on this list for Vancouver residents. Located 16 minutes away from campus, See’s sits on the second story of the Vancouver Mall. Established in 1921, See’s chocolates continue to serve only the classics of regular milk, dark and extra dark chocolate. However, it is especially convenient for gift-givers, as See’s supplies many Valentine’s Day assortments costing as low as $10, and even allows customers to create their own box of chocolates.
Regarding taste, See’s chocolate can satisfy the average customer, but it is subpar compared to other gourmet chocolate because of its overall chewy and bland consistency. Nonetheless, if you want to up your game from regular store-bought candy, we recommend starting at See’s.
Valentine’s Day can be enjoyed with friends, family, significant others or even just yourself. In any case, no matter who you choose to spend it with, chocolate is always a palatable dessert that will make this national holiday of love worth celebrating.
Emily is a senior studying integrated strategic communication at WSU Vancouver.