The sweetest chocolate spots

Whisper sweet nothings to your valentine: "Theobromine, darling." "PEA, my pet."

These are two components in chocolate — theobromine, which affects mood, and PEA (phenethylamine), acting perhaps as an aphrodisiac. Not everyone agrees. Some cupid-grounding scientists think levels of these chemicals found in a few pieces of chocolate are not potent enough to flutter hearts. But Wikipedia quotes a study that says "melting chocolate in one's mouth produced an increase in brain activity and heart rate that was more intense than that associated with passionate kissing, and also lasted four times as long after the activity had ended."

Four times! Gentlemen, are you thinking what I'm thinking?

That chocolate goes with love — or its approximation until the real thing comes along — is hardly a secret. The Mayan and Aztec cultures linked chocolate with fertility, as well as value, using the beans as currency.

And in the 21st century it gets even better. Turns out dark chocolate is good for us. Eaten in moderation, it can be heart-healthy.

That's a nice justification, but really, who eats chocolate only for health? That would put it on equal footing with, say, okra. On a gut level, literally, we know that chocolate tastes great and feels good, and that's all there is to it. To quote connoisseur Charlie Bucket in the movie "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory": "Candy doesn't have to have a point. That's why it's candy."

With this understanding, off I went on a wonderfully pointless search for some of the best chocolate in my town. (I trust you will do research in yours.) Some of my top finds:

Chocolate Box

Across the street from Seattle's Pike Place Market, the Chocolate Box offered an excellent selection from varied chocolatiers including the local companies Fiori, Theo Chocolate, Oh! Chocolate and Chocolat Vitale.

Whatever your level of sophistication, you'll see something to please. There are boxes of chocolate Altoids and gag chocolate bars with amusing wrappers: "Bochox," "Emergency Chocolate," "Chocolate is the New Black."

Find also luxurious sipping chocolate, chocolate teas and an awesome variety of truffles. This was the first time I had ever eaten edible gold, exquisitely placed atop a dark Fiori truffle. For two bucks. Worth every penny.

Store assistant Mike Klein offered this tip for savoring: Inhale, and on the exhale, focus on taste. It really works — the breath passing over the palate pops flavors.

Chocolati

Since 2000, Chocolati has been serving handmade chocolates to a grateful public, so I visited one of their shops, at Green Lake. Julia Salamonik, behind the counter, helped me decide between several shelves of truffles in the deli case. I gave up and told her to pick one for me, and that was the cinnamon almond truffle — a perfect little button ($1.35) that did not overwhelm with sweetness. Among Valentine's Day favorites are their chocolate "fortune cookies" that can be ordered with a personal message inside.

Theo Chocolate

This may be bigger than Obama: Oprah chose Seattle's Theo Chocolate for her "Best List" in this month's O magazine.

Even if you're Oprah-averse, try the Theo factory tour for a thorough education on the business and production of chocolate. With plenty of sampling opportunities, there are surprises, like a bar of Venezuelan chocolate that's 91 percent cacao. One kid on a tour observed: "It tastes like dirt. But in a good way."

Known for using organic ingredients, Theo's is also a fair-trade certified company — no small thing in an industry tainted by child labor and poor pay for farmers. As my tour guide, Rachel, said, "Theo's is karmically good chocolate."

So, today, of all days, give and receive that which needs no point to have a point — chocolate.

Freelance writer Connie McDougall of Seattle is a regular contributor to Northwest Weekend. Contact her: conniemcdougall@yahoo.com.