Chocolate - sweet manners

Chocolate as a Gift – What Should We Know?

By Tami Lancut Leibovitz

Some gifts are grand. Others are small gestures that say a great deal.

Chocolate belongs perfectly in the second category. A beautiful box, a few exceptional pralines, or a distinctive chocolate bar can simply say: I thought of you. I wanted to bring you a little pleasure.

Perhaps that is why chocolate has become one of the most universal gifts in the world. It works beautifully when visiting someone’s home, as a thank-you gesture, as a souvenir from a trip, for a host, and – in the right circumstances – even in business.

Yet even this sweetest of gifts comes with a few points of etiquette worth remembering.

A Little History Before the First Bite

The story of cacao began thousands of years before the chocolate bar as we know it today.

Archaeological evidence shows that cacao was used thousands of years ago in South and Central America. It later held special significance in Maya and Aztec cultures, where it was consumed as a beverage, used ceremonially and, at times, served as a valuable means of exchange.

Cacao reached Europe in the 16th century, where it was initially consumed primarily as a drink. Sugar and other flavours were gradually added, and chocolate became a luxury associated with royal courts and the upper classes.

It was not until the 19th century that new production techniques made solid chocolate and the familiar chocolate bar possible.

Chocolate had travelled a remarkable distance – from a ceremonial drink and luxury product to one of the world’s most familiar and much-loved gifts.

When Is Chocolate an Appropriate Gift?

Almost any time a small gesture feels appropriate: when visiting friends, thanking someone, bringing something back from a journey, meeting a host, or acknowledging colleagues.

The important point is not quantity.

A small selection of excellent pralines can make a far better impression than a large box of mediocre chocolates. With a thoughtful gift, quality and attention matter more than size.

What Should We Remember?

Choose good quality.
Chocolate given as a gift should feel like a treat. It need not be exceptionally expensive, but it should be fresh, well made and presented with care.

Do not pass on an old box of chocolates as a new gift.
You may not know how long it has been stored or under what conditions – and there is always the embarrassing possibility that a personal card intended for the original recipient is still hiding inside.

Consider the weather.
Chocolate and heat are not good travelling companions. In a hot climate, particularly during summer, think about how long the chocolate will be out of an air-conditioned environment. A melted box of chocolates loses more than its shape; it also loses some of the elegance of the gesture.

Presentation is part of the gift.
The wrapping need not be extravagant. It should simply be clean, attractive and thoughtful. Good presentation says: I paid attention to the details.

Think about the recipient.
If you know of allergies, dietary restrictions, vegan preferences, religious dietary requirements or a need to avoid sugar, choose accordingly and make sure the packaging is clearly labelled.

Travelling Abroad? Let the Chocolate Tell a Story

When visiting someone abroad – and, where appropriate, even in a business setting – a quality chocolate from your own country can make a charming gift.

Not because it is an obligation, but because a gift that says something about where you come from is more personal and interesting than something generic that could have been purchased anywhere.

The same principle works in reverse. When returning from a trip, chocolate or a local speciality is an easy and gracious way to tell colleagues, friends or family: I thought of you while I was away.

Sometimes one beautiful box shared by the whole office is more effective than ten individual souvenirs.

If Someone Gives Us Chocolate, Must We Open It Immediately?

Not necessarily.

The intention of the gift matters.

If a guest has clearly brought chocolate to contribute to the evening or to be shared, it is gracious to open it and offer it to the guest and to everyone present.

If it is clearly a personal gift for the host, however, there is no obligation to open it immediately. Thank the giver warmly and acknowledge the gesture.

If you do intend to serve the chocolates, it is often wise to open the box discreetly in the kitchen first. Particularly in warm weather, this gives you an opportunity to make sure the chocolates have survived the journey and look their best – without risking embarrassment for the guest who brought them.

Chocolate at the End of a Meal

Quality chocolate is a wonderful companion to coffee or tea.

Pralines, truffles, petits fours or pieces of fine chocolate can provide an elegant and pleasantly light conclusion to a meal.

Whenever practical, remove unnecessary outer wrappers before serving and present the chocolates neatly and conveniently. As always, small details make a difference.

And What About Business?

Chocolate can also play a delightful role in the business world.

I once advised a businessman who was travelling abroad. He regularly brought a small gift for his host, but on this particular trip he was travelling directly from the airport to a meeting attended by a large group. Giving a gift to only one person would have created an awkward situation.

I suggested that he bring a box of quality chocolate from home and open it on the conference table for everyone to share.

When he returned, he told me that the small gesture had worked beautifully. It broke the ice, started a conversation and brought a touch of human warmth into the room before the business discussion even began.

In international business, of course, it is also important to consider local culture, dietary requirements and the organisation’s policies regarding gifts.

A Small Gift. A Meaningful Message.

Chocolate is, after all, more than something sweet.

Chosen thoughtfully and presented graciously, it says:

I thought of you.
I wanted to make you smile.
I gave you my attention.

And perhaps that is the essence of good manners: not the size of the gesture, but the thought behind it.

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