Gifts · Every occasion
A chocolate for every occasion, chosen for one person
Birthday, thank you, dinner invitation, end of term: the occasion sets the moment, the person sets the chocolate. The sommelier asks a few questions about them, then chooses from its catalogue.
The index
Eight occasions, one method: start with the person
01
Birthday
When: Any time of year
A birthday is best marked with something the person genuinely enjoys. A chocolate that suits them beats a generic box.
Ask the sommelier: Birthday02
Thank you
When: Any time of year
A thank you should be understated and sincere. A well-chosen chocolate says more than a big gesture, especially when it suits the person.
Ask the sommelier: Thank you03
Hostess gift
When: Any time of year
You hand it over at the door, without knowing what is on the menu. The right chocolate keeps well and can be shared or saved for later.
Ask the sommelier: Hostess gift04
Valentine's Day
When: 14 February
The cliché is the risk here. A chocolate that reflects what the two of you actually like beats the big red box.
Ask the sommelier: Valentine's Day05
Mother's Day / Father's Day
When: Mother's Day: Mothering Sunday in the UK (March or April, before Easter), the second Sunday of May in the US and many other countries. Father's Day: third Sunday of June in the UK and US.
Parents are rarely a gift you choose at random. How they like to taste things guides the choice better than a label saying "gift".
Ask the sommelier: Mother's Day / Father's Day06
Teacher, end of term
Teacher, teaching assistant, childminder
When: Around June or July, depending on where you are
An end-of-term gift should be easy to give, nice to receive and free of allergy surprises. Mention any allergies in your very first message.
Ask the sommelier: Teacher, end of term07
Housewarming
When: Any time of year
A housewarming chocolate is for sharing in the new home, once the boxes are finally put away.
Ask the sommelier: Housewarming08
Get well / thinking of you
When: Any time of year
A small gesture for someone on the mend or going through a hard time. Gentleness matters more than show, and tiredness or a special diet can narrow the choice.
Ask the sommelier: Get well / thinking of you
Three choices, then the conversation
Every step is optional. Whatever you leave out, the sommelier will ask.
I'm looking for a chocolate to give.
Ask the sommelierWhat to write on the card
The hardest part of a gift is often the little card. For each chocolate it suggests, the sommelier explains why it suits the person and the occasion. Those explanations become your words: the taste they like, the reason for the choice.
Ask the sommelierChocolate gift questions, answered
The one that fits the person: whether they prefer dark, milk or white, how intense or gentle they like things, and any dietary limits. The XOCOA sommelier asks about these, then suggests chocolates from its catalogue.
It depends on the country. In the UK, Mother's Day is Mothering Sunday, in March or April, three weeks before Easter. In the US and many other countries it falls on the second Sunday of May. Father's Day is the third Sunday of June in both the UK and the US.
A few simple words about the person are enough. The sommelier explains why each chocolate suits them, which gives you the line ready-made: a detail of taste, a reason for choosing this one over another.
Yes, and it is best to say so at the start. The sommelier applies these as strict filters before suggesting anything. Always check the product label when you buy.
No. XOCOA is a sommelier: it helps you choose a chocolate that suits the person and the occasion, and you then buy it from the retailer of your choice.
One occasion, one person, one chocolate
Tell the sommelier who you want to thank, celebrate or comfort. Christmas has a page of its own.