If you’d like to give chocolate as a Valentine’s Day gift, choose a heart-shaped box or one clearly presented as a gift if the gesture is what matters most. An assortment is a better fit if the recipient wants to try different flavours or share the chocolate. Either way, check the ingredients and allergens for the variety you choose. Kano biscuits are pastries filled with almond paste, not a box of chocolates.
A heart shape or gift packaging makes the intention behind the present clear straight away. One example is a heart-shaped box of chocolates sold by PLUS, although the filling still needs to suit the recipient.
An assortment is a good option if the recipient likes to choose or you want to share the gift. For example, Albert Heijn lists a Tony’s Chocolonely tasting pack with six small bars; that’s different from a box of chocolates.
If the recipient needs to avoid certain ingredients or allergens, the information for the specific variety you choose will determine whether the box is suitable. For an assortment, too, check the current packaging rather than relying only on its shape or product name.
First decide whether you want to give chocolate or are specifically looking for kano biscuits filled with almond paste. The points below will help you choose a box of chocolates or a chocolate assortment for Valentine’s Day.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gift presentation | Check the shape and presentation, as well as the type of chocolate and filling in the box. | I want the gift to feel like a clear Valentine’s Day gesture, without the recipient having to guess what I mean. Around 33% of consumers put presentation first. |
| Flavours and sharing | Check which flavours are listed on the packaging and how many individual pieces are in the assortment. | If I don’t know the recipient’s tastes exactly, or want us to try the chocolates together, an assortment offers more choice. For around 25% of consumers, variety or being able to share is the main reason for choosing one. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information for the specific variety you’ve chosen. | I need to be sure the contents are suitable for what the recipient can eat, so the packaging matters more than the gift shape. Around 25% of consumers put checking the ingredients first. |
| Contents and size | Compare the net weight and, where stated, the number of pieces. | For a small gesture, I don’t want to choose a larger box than necessary, while if I’m sharing it, I’ll pay attention to the quantity. Around 17% of consumers choose primarily based on contents and size. |
Jumbo and Lidl describe kano biscuits as pastries filled with almond paste. If you want to give chocolate, these are a different type of product from what you’re looking for.
Before choosing, check whether the product description refers to chocolates, a chocolate assortment or kano biscuits filled with almond paste.
The shape doesn’t tell you whether the filling is suitable for someone who needs to avoid certain ingredients or allergens. The contents of an assortment can vary from one piece to another, too.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging before comparing the presentation.
A Valentine’s Day page may relate to an earlier period. Lidl’s page for Valentine’s Day 2026 also says that products are available while stocks last.
Just before buying, check the current product page and the available delivery or collection options.
Verkade has a heart-shaped chocolate product, although a heart shape alone doesn’t make it a box of chocolates.
Jumbo lists chocolate gifts separately from chocolates and pralines in its range.
PLUS sells chocolates and lists, among other products, a heart-shaped box of Milka chocolates.
The Sondey Kano biscuits listed by Lidl are pastries filled with almond paste, not a chocolate gift.
No. Jumbo and Lidl describe kano biscuits as pastries filled with almond paste. If you want to give chocolate for Valentine’s Day, look for chocolates or a chocolate gift.
Yes. If ingredients or allergens matter to the recipient, read the information for the variety you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be clearly stated on the label of prepacked foods, so check the current packaging.
Use the current packaging for your final check. Albert Heijn warns that product information for a chocolate tasting pack can change, including the ingredients and allergen information.
Follow the storage advice on the specific packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also provides general storage advice for opened chocolates, but the instructions and best-before date on the box you’ve chosen are still important.
