There are many ways to say, “I love you.” But first you have to ask: Does your significant other think you’re in La La land?

If so, give them a taste of the real thing. The Port Gamble store La La Land Chocolates specializes in deep, dark and original truffles. The Key Lime truffle, for instance, is among the 29 different delectables created by owner Jamie Marquiss.

“This will be our first Valentine’s here at the new storefront,” she said. “It will be interesting but I think we’ll be very busy. We sold 20,000 truffles in December.”
Her truffles are made with chocolate that is 70-percent cocoa and filled with high-grade cocoa butter.

“And no sugar,” she said. “People are always surprised when I tell them that.”
Don’t let the fact that the darker the chocolate the more it does a body good, disturb you. You read that right. In this month’s edition of Prevention magazine, is a study that says chocolate has qualities that seem suspiciously — healthy.

“Just 1 oz of a very special chocolate packs more than twice the healthy antioxidant punch of red wine or other dark chocolates,” the article states.

That “special” chocolate is Dove Dark, which has “superhigh” levels of flavanols. Studies have shown that people with high levels of (flavanols) have lower risk of heart disease, lung cancer, prostate cancer, asthma, and type 2 diabetes.

Other dark chocolates have about half as much flavanols as Dove Dark. Even that is twice as much as is a small red apple, according to Prevention.

Of course, none of that is poetic or romantic, so you might just want to keep this to yourself until the Valentine moments pass.

According to Suzanne Suther, who owns Boehms Chocolates in Poulsbo, chocolate gift boxes have always been a Valentine’s Day staple. Many of us have fond memories of red, heart shaped boxes and chasing after (or avoiding) certain pieces. Once you bit in to a certain piece you had to eat it — even if it was the wrong one.

Boehms’ world is a little different: While standard samplers are available, you can also make a custom selection that only has the pieces that you — or your sweetheart — really likes.

Suther noted a gift of chocolate should be tailored to the recipients taste. If there are no clues, she said that, in her experience, most men like nuts and chews.

Memories of good chocolate last. But jewelry lasts longer.

Toni Feales makes the wax ring models for Blue Heron Jewelers of Poulsbo. Leo Fried custom designs rings and necklaces and one hallmark of many different qualities in Fried’s art is unusually colored stones.

“He made something recently with a really bright pink sapphire and added a couple of stones,” Feales said. “There was another recently with opal and lapiz. You just get really different looks.”

She said she watches Fried work with clients and always walks away impressed.

“He has an ability to figure out a design they’d like, the style, the set,” she said. “That’s not as easy as it sounds.”

Though it’s too late for a truly one-of-a-kind design in time for Valentine’s Day, Feales said Fried has many designs that can be altered to “really fit with the person.”

And don’t forget the guys, she says. “I wish guys would buy more jewelry,” she said. “We’ve work with a lot of amber and silver. That adds masculinity to the jewelry.”

And when all else fails, there’s always the traditional roses. Expect to pay a minimum of $50 and upwards to $100, depending on when you order and from where. But here’s a tip for the romantic on a budget. Some local Albertson’s stores sell a dozen carry-out roses wrapped in paper for $9. Will they be that price on Feb. 14? None of the store managers would say for sure, but they are every other day, so buy them a day early.