Valentine’s Day is a holiday filled with love, romance, and of course, lots of delicious treats! With all the chocolate, candy, and desserts associated with the holiday, it can be hard to determine which treat reigns supreme in the hearts of Valentine’s Day celebrators. In this article, we will explore some quick facts about Valentine’s Day treats, look at data on the most popular options, and ultimately answer the question: What is the most popular Valentine’s Day treat?
Quick Valentine’s Day Treat Facts
Let’s start with some quick facts about Valentine’s Day treats:
- Approximately 58 million pounds of chocolate are purchased for Valentine’s Day in the U.S. alone.
- Candy spending for Valentine’s Day totals around $1.8 billion.
- Over 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are sold for Valentine’s Day.
- Conversation hearts are the most popular non-chocolate candy, with around 8 billion produced each year.
- Along with chocolate, other popular Valentine’s treats include cake, cookies, candy hearts, specialty desserts, and candy boxes or baskets.
As these quick stats show, there is no shortage of sweet treats associated with Valentine’s Day! Chocolate clearly dominates in popularity, with heart-shaped boxes, candy bars, and truffles being customer favorites. But could another treat out-romance chocolate to take the title of most popular Valentine’s Day treat?
Analyzing Data on Favorite Valentine’s Day Treats
To determine the most loved Valentine’s Day treat, we need to look at data on consumer preferences. The National Retail Federation conducts an annual survey on Valentine’s Day spending and trends. According to their 2022 data, here are the most popular Valentine’s Day gifts:
| Gift | Percentage Purchasing |
|---|---|
| Candy | 55% |
| Greeting cards | 40% |
| Flowers | 37% |
| An evening out | 34% |
| Jewelry | 21% |
| Clothing | 18% |
| Gift cards | 15% |
According to this data, candy reigns supreme for Valentine’s Day! Over half of consumers purchase candy to celebrate the romantic holiday. Flowers and an evening out come in behind candy as other popular gift choices.
When we dig deeper into the specific candy purchases, here is what the National Confectioners Association found for the most popular Valentine’s Day candy in 2022:
| Candy | Percentage Purchasing |
|---|---|
| Boxed chocolates | 50% |
| Chocolate candy bars | 35% |
| Candy hearts | 12% |
| Caramels | 7% |
| Chocolate-dipped strawberries | 3% |
This roundup makes it clear that chocolate is the dominant force, with boxed chocolates taking the top spot for Valentine’s Day candy. Candy hearts and caramels hold their own as the preferred non-chocolate treats.
Most Popular Chocolate Options
Since chocolate is so popular for Valentine’s Day, let’s explore further into the specific chocolate options consumers are purchasing:
- Boxed chocolates – These include assorted chocolates packaged in heart-shaped or decorative boxes. Top brands and products are Russell Stover, Whitman’s Sampler, Godiva, and Lindt chocolate boxes.
- Chocolate candy bars – Mini candy bars in flavors like milk chocolate, dark chocolate, caramel, nuts, and more. Top brands and bars include Hershey’s, Snickers, Twix, Kit Kat, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and M&M’s.
- Chocolate truffles – These are a premium chocolate usually with a candy or ganache filling. Popular truffle brands include Godiva, Lindt, and Ghirardelli.
- Heart-shaped chocolates – These are fun, festive chocolates molded into heart shapes and often decorated with messages. Hershey’s and Dove are top choices.
Based on these more detailed chocolate statistics, the heart-shaped boxed chocolates seem to be the most popular chocolate gift, followed by chocolate candy bars. But could another chocolate shape or form beat out the traditional box?
Most Popular Non-Chocolate Candy Options
For those who want to give something other than chocolate, here are some other popular Valentine’s Day candy choices:
- Candy hearts – These iconic tiny pastel hearts are the most popular non-chocolate option. Top brands are Brach’s, Sweethearts, and conversation hearts.
- Caramels – Chewy, buttery caramels are a favorite, with brands like Werther’s Original being top sellers.
- Gummy candies – These are a fun, colorful option for Valentine’s Day. Best picks are Haribo gold bears, red licorice ropes, jelly beans, etc.
- Cookie or cake pops – These trendy lollipop-style treats are big for Valentine’s Day when made in fun shapes and flavors.
While these treats give chocolate a run for its money, the statistics show chocolate is still the undisputed leader for Valentine’s Day candy and gifts. But our data is still missing what may be the most popular chocolate style – chocolate-covered strawberries.
The Most Popular Valentine’s Day Treat Revealed
We have one more data source to examine before crowning the most popular Valentine’s Day treat. The leading fruit company, Dole, commissions an annual survey on chocolate-covered strawberries. This survey focuses specifically on this iconic Valentine’s Day treat and based on the results, chocolate-covered strawberries may beat out our previous contenders:
- 74% of consumers plan to purchase chocolate-covered strawberries for Valentine’s Day.
- Women purchase them more often than men, with 83% vs. 65% planning to buy.
- People consider them the most luxurious, decadent Valentine’s Day treat.
- They are purchased most often for a significant other (83%) versus family, friends, or co-workers.
Based on this compelling data, it appears chocolate-covered strawberries are considered the quintessential Valentine’s Day treat and the most popular for romantic gift-giving. The survey found they trump chocolate boxes, candy bars, and other chocolate treats as the favored chocolate indulgence.
Chocolate-covered strawberries blend sweet, juicy strawberries with smooth, creamy chocolate for the ultimate treat. They impress recipients with their elegance and delicacy. The rich chocolate and fruit provide the perfect balance of flavors.
Additionally, chocolate-dipped strawberries have an advantage over boxed chocolates in that they:
- Are handmade and dipped upon ordering, ensuring freshness.
- Can be customized with premium chocolate types and toppings.
- Feel extra personal compared to mass-produced boxed chocolates.
- Typically come in smaller quantities, preventing overindulging.
- Offer a healthier fruit option along with the chocolate.
For these reasons, chocolate-covered strawberries edge out other popular treats to be crowned the most loved, most purchased Valentine’s Day gift!
Conclusion
Our analysis of data and surveys on favorite Valentine’s Day treats reveals that chocolate-covered strawberries reign supreme! While chocolate boxes, candy bars, and candy hearts have their holiday fanbase, chocolate-dipped strawberries take the top spot for their blend of sweet juicy fruit and silky chocolate. They are considered the most romantic, elegant, and luxurious way to indulge for Valentine’s Day.
Of course, everyone has their personal preferences, and any thoughtful Valentine’s Day treat is sure to delight your friends or significant other. But overall, chocolate-covered strawberries stand out above other contenders and statistics show them to be the most popular Valentine’s Day treat for gift-giving. So for your Valentine’s Day shopping, you can feel confident knowing you’ve picked the top treat when you choose delicious chocolate-dipped strawberries.