Chocolates are wonderful, but maybe we can do you one better

By Zarmminaa Rehman

A tale as old as time — key word old — it’s Valentine’s Day, and what better way to express your love and affection than with a box of chocolates? Chocolate and Valentine’s go together like chocolate eggs and Easter or perhaps chocolate and Halloween… It seems that chocolate is well, everywhere.

At CanCulture, we’re not chocolate haters, in fact, I personally cannot get enough of Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bar, but with the holiday arriving only once a year, maybe it’s time we dig deeper. It often happens that there isn’t enough time to find that perfect treat and chocolates are the go-to that you pick up on the day — there’s no shame in that — however, presenting your Valentine with one of the ideas below could show that extra ounce of love and affection

Who doesn’t love a fresh, sweet and butter-filled pastry?

Bakery Boxes

What is better than a box of pastries? A box of pastries that can be both sweet and savoury. Now of course you’ll get the familiar taste of chocolate, can’t go wrong with a classic, but you also have options for lemon, vanilla, pistachio, strawberry and even coffee. Not to mention, the bakery box fulfills the desire for something sweet, savoury, then sweet again — who doesn’t want a decadent pastry assortment they can enjoy long after Valentine’s is over?

Have your flowers (adjacent) and eat them too

Edible Arrangements

It’s understandable that the price of these assortments rivals a beautiful bouquet of flowers, however, maybe this year you save up for an arrangement of the edible kind. Already aware of dipped strawberries, did you know that you can have more than just dipped strawberries, all of which can be stabbed with a stick and arranged like a floret, replicating the display of bright colours and an even more luscious frangent — of sugar of course.

For the pickiest eater, try the pockiest treat 

Pocky assortment 

The thing about chocolate is that sometimes you can have a bit too much but what can you almost continue to constantly crunch on? Pocky. Coated with a choice or chocolate, strawberry or even matcha, an assortment of various Pocky or Pepero is a cute alternative to only chocolate and later you can maybe even make a fun game out of the pocky *wink* *wink*.  

Move over candied apples, a new option is in town

Tanghulu bouquet 

Yes, another fruit option on this list but it seems that sugar in fruit isn’t enough, we must make it sweeter—it’s called balance. A Chinese street snack, now finding popularity in shops across the world such as Tanghulu Tanghulu located in Canada—levelling up from the simple chocolate dipped strawberries and having entire candied tangerines. A possible do-it-yourself option because how hard could making a hot sugar syrup be and then dip fruit into it be…? Well, it can be hard but it’s not impossible, better get to practicing before you attempt an entire skewer.

Time to get baking 

Biscuit boxes

Just kidding! Of course, you don’t have to stand around for half the day and bake cookies, that’s reserved for the holiday season, however, who said a cute little plate of assorted biscuits wouldn’t warm someone’s heart? Affordable options range from Oreos, shortbread, linzer cookies, macarons and even Milano cookies that you can arrange or opt to get an already-made set from Adonis, Costco or even Metro — though you may have to add your personal snazzy finish to these. Just know that if your partner doesn’t appreciate your biscuit box, there is a south asian aunty who’d love to receive a box of butter cookies from you!

Who says strawberries are the only romantic fruit

Pomegranate 

Now this might take a little hunting but have you considered peeling and removing pomegranate seeds for your loved one? Strawberries are synonymous with love and romance, and whilst the berry might have a chokehold on the entire day of Valentine’s, taking the time, effort and care to de-seed a pomegranate is sweeter than the most delicious-looking strawberry. Similar to the TikTok trend of peeling a tangerine for a partner, there is a love language to peeling, cutting or de-seeding fruit, whether it’s a form of apology or a show of care, eating fruit prepared by a loved one always tastes the sweetest!

Nothing better that says “I remembered” 

A meal from their favourite place

There is so much pressure on making Valentine’s Day the most romantic day, whether that be with flowers, chocolates or other grand gestures of affection.  Sometimes, just remembering what your Valentine likes can be the most memorable moment of their day. Maybe the restaurant is across town, or the place only makes a certain amount of their favourite dish, or perhaps it’s a little on the pricier side. It might be a dish they only get on special occasions or a special little treat on their worst days. Picking up a warm meal to share together may not only be more valuable and special than a thousand boxes of chocolates, this shows that you’ve been paying attention to what they cherish!