It's no secret that I love chocolate, and that while milk chocolate will do, I really prefer the dark variety. It seems my Mom knows this pretty well, as along with some birthday spending money, she made sure to give me a bag of Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Squares.

Ghirardelli chocolate is made in the United States by the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company. I had the opportunity to visit the Ghirardelli Chocolate Manufactory in 1995, when I visited San Francisco, and I've also eaten at their soda fountains/shops when I've had the chance. They make excellent chocolate, and I appreciate it all the more for having been able to see how it is produced.

The Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Squares are available in three ways; in a 6.75 ounce foil bag, in a gift box, and some places sell them individually as well. I received the foil bag. The bag itself is red and gold with the blue, gold and white Ghirardelli logo at the top, and a photo of one of the chocolate squares on the bottom. The back of the bag features a bit of information about the squares, as well as nutrition facts and an ingredients list.

The squares themselves are individually wrapped in red and gold foil. There is a spot on the back that reads "To Open: Lift Flap and Tear at End," and this works pretty well. I have had to help my kids open the few of these that I've let get into their hands. Each chocolate square is .375 ounces (10.6 grams). The squares are also quite attractive to look at, as each has the Ghiradelli logo molded into the top.

Of course, the important thing about chocolate is not really the packaging or size, but the taste. Ghirardelli's dark chocolate squares are delicious and rich. The chocolate melts smoothly in your mouth, creating an enjoyable mouth feel. I find that I eat a bit less chocolate total when consuming these particular squares, possibly because they are so rich. Some people may not enjoy the note of bitterness in the dark chocolate, but I think the bitter notes are what draw me to dark chocolate. Interestingly, both my children - ages 6 and 2 - love these dark chocolate squares.

Because I received this bag of chocolate squares as a gift, I'm not sure what my mother paid for it. I know that she bought them at Marshall Field's, as that is where she shops, almost exclusively. Looking around on the internet suggests that you can get a package of 10 of the squares for around $5.00, while a larger package like might may be around $15.00 (I didn't count the squares before I started eating them, but I believe there were between 20 and 25 in the package). Interestingly, the packages of squares are not available through www.ghirardelli.com; they carry a very small selection of gift packages. If I wanted to buy these particular chocolate squares again I would look around in fine department stores, coffee shops, or boutiques, or I'd just use www.google.com online to find the best price online.

There are other types of Ghirardelli chocolate squares available, including plain milk chocolate, milk chocolate with caramel filling, milk chocolate with caramelized almonds, mild chocolate with double chocolate filling, and - my favorite - dark chocolate with white mint filling. They are all good, but to me the dark chocolate ones taste the best.

Ingredients list: sweet chocolate (sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, milk fat, soy lecithin - an emulsifier, vanilla). The ingredients list notes that these chocolates may contain trace amounts of nuts and milk protein.

I was pleased to receive a bag of Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate Squares. I love the dark chocolate taste, and I appreciate the fact that a smaller amount satisfies my ever-present chocolate craving. The packaging is elegant, although personally I think wrapping each chocolate individually is a bit wasteful. (On the other hand, it makes it easy to toss one in my purse for an emergency without worrying that my things will get coated in chocolate). I do like that this is an American chocolate company, and the chocolate quality is much better than Hershey's. These chocolates are a bit on the pricy side, but if you have the money, they make a nice gift or a fun way to treat yourself. 4 stars.




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