The Valentine’s Edit: 4 Chocolates for the Design-Obsessed

BrandsWalk Creative |
Skip the drugstore aisle. When you are shopping for a gift this year, try to deliver on aesthetics just as much as taste for someone significant or yourself. For this Valentine's Edit, we bypassed the standard red heart boxes and curated four global chocolatiers that double as serious design objects. | Image Dandelion Chocolate

Dandelion Chocolate (San Francisco / Tokyo)

The Vibe: The Cult-Favorite "Tokyo Gâteau"

San Francisco-based Dandelion champions the strict bean-to-bar movement, and their famous Tokyo Gâteau is a masterpiece of restraint. Originally crafted as a winter exclusive by Chef Mai in their Kuramae, Tokyo location, this flourless cake uses only four pure ingredients.

The brilliant part is its shapeshifting texture: eat it straight from the fridge for a dense fudge experience, leave it at room temperature for a velvety terrine, or warm it up for a soft soufflé effect.

★ The Editor's Comment : A minimalist’s dream. A rare souvenir from Tokyo that completely prioritizes raw ingredients over heavy ornamentation.

The Buy: Dandelion Chocolate The Tokyo Gâteau

Stick With Me Sweets (New York, USA)

The Vibe: Edible Jewels in a Storybook

Former Per Se pastry chef Susanna Yoon crafts sweets that demand to be displayed. The packaging mimics an elegant, linen-bound hardcover book, designed to sit beautifully on a coffee table. Inside, you will find hyper-glossy, hand-painted bonbons that look exactly like polished glass marbles.

Every single piece takes three days to complete, showcasing an intense dedication to high-craft techniques.

★ The Editor's Comment: The perfect gift for the romantic who prefers art museums over dinner dates. It serves as a library book filled with miniature, Michelin-level sculptures.

The Buy: Stick with Me The 6pc Bonbon Book

Fossa Chocolate Singapore (Singapore)

The Vibe: The Viral Storyteller

If your palate is bored to death by the same old salted caramel and dark chocolate bars, Fossa is your wake-up call. Their packaging is an eclectic mix of art styles—from botanical sketches to whimsical cartoons—but the real draw is their fearlessness.

Their absolute must-try is the "Duck Shit Dancong Tea" bar. The jarring name comes from a legendary Chinese tea farmer who labeled his crop "Duck Shit" to disgust his neighbors and protect his rare, honeysuckle-scented plants. It is the perfect antidote to ordinary chocolate.

★ The Editor's Note: For the flavor adventurer. Forget the safe options—explore a world of odd, award-winning chocolates where "weird" just means delicious. The Buy: The "Singaporean Breakfast" series (Satay or Salted Egg) or the Tea Series.

The Buy: Duck Shit Dancong Tea Bar, Fossa Dark Chocolate Spicy Mala 65%,
Where to buy in the US: Bar and Cocoa

Compartés (Los Angeles, USA)

The Vibe: The Willy Wonka of Fashion

Jonathan Grahm leads this LA-based heritage brand with pure maximalist energy. Acting as both the head chocolatier and the lead graphic designer, he creates loud, neon, collage-style packaging that radiates California cool.

The flavor profiles match the aggressive visuals, featuring hyper-nostalgic mix-ins like donuts, cereal, and waffle cones.

★ The Editor's Comment: Made for the bold trendsetter. Compartés brings the vibrant, unapologetic energy of LA street art directly to your palate.


The Buy: Any of their Berry Bouquet Chocolates Heart Box