Our chocoholic editors tried five of the most popular chocolate subscription boxes. See which options impressed and which made us click "unsubscribe."
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It’s no surprise to us that our best chocolate box winner also brings us the best chocolate subscription box, too! We tested the Compartés Chocolate of the Month Club box in February—and it wowed us from the moment it arrived. Inside were two chocolate bars and a box of assorted chocolates. The boxed selection was the I Love You Chocolates Heart Box, a delightful limited-edition Valentine’s gift. When opened, you’re greeted with chocolates that spell out “I LOVE YOU,” making it as charming as it is tasty!
The assortment featured strawberry cream and crème brûlée–filled chocolates. According to tester Mary Henn, the strawberry cream was exactly what you’d expect—fruity and delicious. The crème brûlée, however, was a standout surprise, capturing the rich, warm vanilla flavor of the classic dessert with impressive accuracy.
“February’s box included two chocolate bars: California Berries, a vegan dark chocolate full of dried berries, and Strawberry Shortcake, a white chocolate bar packed with strawberries and airy, crunchy shortcake pieces,” says Mary. “The California Berries bar is tart, slightly crunchy and not overly sweet. The Strawberry Shortcake was a pleasant surprise, even for someone who doesn’t typically enjoy white chocolate.”
Outside of a subscription, each bar retails for $9.95, bringing the total value of the subscription box to nearly $95—that’s a great value when compared to the $75 subscription price. While the subscription does require a minimum of three deliveries ($180 total for a $225 value), it would make a thoughtful gift, especially if you have a series of occasions, like someone’s birthday month falling around Mother’s Day. We love that with this subscription, you get great variety in addition to high quality. That’s a rare find!
Looking for a dazzling gift for your favorite gourmand? We suggest the chocolate subscription from Dandelion Chocolate—but only if you want to make an impression! This two-ingredient chocolate bar subscription isn’t a simple chocolate subscription. It’s a ticket for your tastebuds that takes them through a flavorful journey each month.
While the subscription is pricey at $75 per month, you get six incredible bars to enjoy throughout the weeks leading up to your next shipment. Yes, you read that right! Each month’s box includes two bars of each selection, from three distinctive cocoa origins. This allows you to enjoy the chocolate on its own and still have an extra bar if you want to try baking with it like I did. Or, enjoy each bar as a standalone treat! We don’t judge here.
And the bars themselves are seriously, seriously swoon-worthy. I hosted an impromptu chocolate tasting with my husband and we had a great time identifying tasting notes and discussing how each bar differed from the others. Even though each bar only contains two ingredients, it’s amazing how different beans can create such different flavors! Each option was distinct and delicious—nothing like the chocolate you find in stores.
Plus, the packaging is just gorgeous. All six bars arrived stacked in a pretty box tied with twine—it seriously feels like unwrapping a gift! The bars are also wrapped in a soft paper wrapping with foil underneath for freshness. The paper sleeve is patterned and has the origin and chocolate information printed right on the packaging for convenience. There are also brochures included with tasting instructions and origin maps. I’ve tried over 30 different food subscriptions over the years, and this is easily the most impressive presentation I’ve seen!
For a choco aficionado who isn’t particularly interested in out-there flavors or bitter beans, a subscription to Harry & David’s chocolate club is just the thing. While the box isn’t much of a surprise since the contents of each month are laid out on the site, it still makes a fantastic gift. And the chocolates themselves? Absolutely delectable, according to our tester—though that’s no surprise for Harry & David gifts!
“I never tried Harry & David chocolate until now, but I know of the company’s reputation,” says tester Barbara Bellesi Zito. “This is the first time I was on the receiving end of a delivery, and it is worth the hype.” Barbara’s box contained 32 chocolates and truffles. Inside were solid medallions, salted caramel cups, hazelnut butterflies, milk chocolate creme sea shells, molton chocolate, milk and dark chocolate cremes, dulche de leech pears and orange creme teardrops.
While the box is pricey at around $50 per shipment, it’s actually the most inexpensive option we tested, though the shipping cost is rather high for those without a Celebrations Passport. It’s a fantastic pick for either savoring or gifting to someone who appreciates fine chocolate, but doesn’t like to venture too much outside of their comfort zone. It would also be an excellent addition to a dessert table at a party or holiday gathering.
“It’s been weeks after my husband and I devoured the last piece of the Harry & David Chocolate and Truffle Collection, and I’m not exaggerating when I say that I’m still dreaming of them,” says Barbara. “Normally, I’m a Lindor truffle fan with a little Godiva thrown in, but now that Harry & David chocolate is on my radar, it is my mission to enjoy more of it. Although I prefer milk to dark chocolate, I found the dark chocolate selections to be smooth and creamy, not bitter at all.”
For folks who are seeking a company with a mission that matches its quality, consider Formaggio Kitchen’s chocolate subscription. The brand specializes in bean-to-bar chocolate. Chocolatiers who utilize the bean-to-bar process make their chocolate from scratch, starting with the raw cacao beans. This makes each and every bar from Formaggio Kitchen high-quality and incredibly special.
The box came with three chocolate bars, one large, one medium, and one small, plus a little fridge magnet sticker with the company logo and a QR code to learn more about each month’s box. We tested the selection for February, which focused on “textured” chocolates, so each bar had a unique rustic texture. The smallest bar (from Mexico) was unfortunately in pieces when it arrived, which was a shame. That said, it was still delicious!
“I was impressed at the size of one of the chocolate bars, and all three of them were special—I had never tasted a textured chocolate before, and they all tasted smooth and rich,” says tester Paul Rankin. “I liked the tiny crystalized sugars throughout the bar. Definitely a step up from grocery store chocolate.”
Paul notes that the subscription is rather pricey at around $75 per month, so it may not be a great splurge for folks expecting quantity over quality. This also isn’t the subscription for fans of normal milk chocolate. However, If you really like chocolate and want to explore bars you’ll probably never had heard of before—or know someone who fits the bill—this is a great subscription box for you.
According to chocolate expert Megan Giller, Founder and CEO of Chocolate Noise, the number one thing to look for is whether the subscription works with brands that prioritize ethics, either by directly trading with cocoa farmers or by paying fair trade premiums. There is a lot of inequality in the chocolate industry, so choosing options that support better practices always gets our seal of approval. In the same vein, transparency around sourcing is a big consideration.
“Folks should also take a look at the number of makers a chocolate club works with, to see if members will learn about new brands or dive deeper into brands they might already know and love,” says Megan. “They should also consider how often the subscription sends new boxes, and compare that to how much chocolate they eat on a regular basis. It’s always a bummer to have either way too little or way too much.”
To find the best chocolate clubs, we first researched the most popular options. We also tried picks from brand we already know and love. From there, we took notes on our entire experience, deducting points for any iffy packaging or stale bites. For the majority of our tested options, we tried at least two months of shipments to ensure that the quality is consistent.
Finding the best chocolate subscription boxes means digging for options that don’t just deliver good chocolate, but also a good experience. If we wouldn’t gift the subscriptions to our favorite person, we wouldn’t recommend them to you.
During testing, we focused on the following attributes:
A chocolate subscription box (also called a chocolate club) is a lot like a food club, but better. Instead of centering on snacks as a whole, these sugary clubs contain only chocolate—perfect for the sweet tooth! While they all offer delicious, gourmet options, there are chocolate clubs built for almost every tastebud. You can find options that focus on:
In our experience, chocolate subscription boxes typically ship with cooling packs in the warmer months. In the cooler months, most chocolate subscriptions will arrive nice and cold without any extra packaging, though they might include cooling packs to stay on the safe side.
I’ve tested dozens of foods and drinks for Taste of Home, informing pieces like the best coffee concentrates, puzzle subscriptions and candle of the month clubs. Not only am I Taste of Home’s resident food and drinks expert, but I’m also a big fan of food clubs. I’ve personally tested more than 30 different food clubs during my time at Taste. I also enlisted the assistance of my fellow editors and product testers on the Taste of Home team. Over the past few years, we’ve tried well over 100 different gift of the month clubs!
For this piece, we also spoke to Megan Giller, Founder and CEO of Chocolate Noise. Megan provided us with valuable insights into why folks might want to try a chocolate club, along with what to look for when shopping for a subscription.
