I meant to have a box of this for Valentine’s and write a review of it. It didn’t happen, and this box didn’t mean to happen either. I was actually buying them for Mother’s Day. I clicked on the wrong address in my account, and some stranger at my mom’s old address got a box of chocolate. They’re too fragile to be resold after they’ve been shipped back and forth, so all I could do was reorder another box.

That was when things took a turn for the better. When I reordered, they somehow managed to send the order to me instead. Since it was their mistake, they sent another to my mom, and I got this one for myself. Obviously, we were meant to be together.

There are two main things to know about this brand: First of all, this is very much a dark chocolate experience. There are a few milk chocolate pieces, but if that’s what you prefer, go elsewhere.

On the other hand, if you’re a dark chocolate fiend, like I am, read on.

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Theo is so environmentally-politically-correct that one of their bars has a picture of Jane Goodall with a chimp on it. Their products are made with fair trade and organic ingredients. That’s all very nice, but what you want to know is: How do they taste?

SPOILER ALERT: Wow.

These are a little larger than most company’s bonbons – large enough that a person like me, who usually cuts a really good, expensive filled chocolate in half to save some for later, can cut these in quarters and still enjoy them. Other good qualities of the presentation: They are all rectangular or square, further aiding the cutting-up process, and they are decorated differently and come with a flyer identifying and describing them.

The fillings are all described as ganaches. Ganache is basically cream and melted chocolate whipped together, but not for so long that it turns into whipped cream. Some of these don’t have chocolate in them, but they are nearly all that kind of very soft, melty texture. No hard work chewing caramels or crunchy nuts, here.

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I was recently given the opportunity to try a box of Ococoa’s Butter Cup Collection. I thought I knew chocolate. I thought I knew what flavors go well with chocolate (peanut butter, mint, and Sunkist, to name a few). I thought I knew what to expect from a box of chocolates. Then came Ococoa.

I get a lot of mail and have been receiving two to three packages per week for the last few months. When a box arrived last week, I assumed it was a homeschooling product I was expecting and didn’t bother to look at the return address. I got a knife, sliced the tape on the box, opened the flaps, and said, “I smell chocolate….”

That is a very pleasant, very enticing way to open a package.

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People associate candy with many things, but “healthy” usually isn’t one of them. Despite the many recent scientific findings showing that chocolate is good for you, candy still has a pretty bad reputation in that department. Here’s where Figamajigs step in.

Figamajigs are chocolate covered pieces of fig that are beautifully packaged in two very recognizable candy shapes: in bar form and as little panned candy pieces. It may sound like a strange combination, but I assure you, this is every bit as tasty as anything you’ll find in the candy aisle in your local store. The figs make up a majority of this candy as they provide a wonderful deep fruity flavor that will grow on you.

I’ve tried all the Figamajigs varieties and the ones with the colorful panned candy shells were my favorite because the shell is quite crunchy and adds another level of texture. The center is figgy and soft with a nice dense chew like a good fudge. You definitely taste more fig than chocolate, which is a good thing since both flavors compliment each other so well.

These are worth a try whether you are a fig lover or not. Even though Figamajigs don’t deliver a true hardcore/full chocolate taste, they’re still sweet, satisfying, and they feel like candy. I’m officially addicted.

• Figamajigs Website

chocolate, figs, fruit, healthy