[1] [2] [3] The Valentine gift box from VineBox, with artisan chocolate bars from Ritual Chocolate.

There’s no need leave home to get them. Just click below to order these online.
1. FOR THE WINE DRINKER: A WINE & CHOCOLATE PAIRING

VineBox is a monthly wine-by-the-glass subscription service; but for Valentine’s Day, it has teamed up with artisan chocolatier Ritual Chocolates to offer gift box that anyone can order.

Three red wines have been paired with two different 75% cacao origin chocolate bars, from Belize and Madagascar.

The wines include a Chianti from Tuscany, a Crozes-Hermitage from the Rhone Valley of France, and a Don Paolo from the Pompeii area of southern Italy.

Beautifully packaged—you’ll want to repurpose the empty box or wine vials—the gift includes two separate boxes, with a total of

 
Both boxes are $69 at VineBox.com; shipping is included.
 
 
For More Wine & Chocolate Pairings

Check out THE NIBBLE’s favorite pairings, and our master pairing chart.

Here’s a guide to pairing sparkling wines with chocolate.

Here’s how to pair wine with chocolate desserts and other desserts.

This herbal blend from one of our favorite artisan blenders combines red rooibos, baby rose buds and petals, marigold petals, almonds and saffron (a well known aphrodisiac).

Whether hot or iced, we guarantee the recipient will love it. A four-ounce tin is $16 at Tay Tea.

The company has another rooibos blend we love, with bits of Belgian dark chocolate and peppermint, called Better Than Sex.
 

3. ORGANIC TRUFFLE HONEY

Many truffle-flavored products are flavored with a chemical approximation of truffle flavor and aroma.

But this jar of Acacia honey, certified USDA organic, is flavored with real white truffle pieces.

We love dipping it by the spoon from the jar; but more genteel uses include:

 
Truffle honey turns something simple into something joyous.

Get yours from Murray’s Cheese, $26.99 for a 4.25-ounce jar of heaven.

[4] Lovers’ Tea from Tay Tea is an elegant herbal blend. [5] Honey in a perfect marriage with truffles, from Da Rosario.

[1] Cut heart shapes for Valentine’s Day (photo courtesy Kavemania | Facebook). [2] Use cookie cutters to create special designs (photo courtesy Martha Stewart and [3] SXC). [4] These artisan marshmallows are delicious, but too tall and pillowy to cut into shapes (photo The Nibble).

HOW TO CUT MARSHMALLOWS

Instead, use sharp kitchen scissors. Dip them in warm water, or use a paper towel to apply a very thin coat of neutral cooking oil, like canola or grapes.

You can try both methods to see which you prefer.

Then, snip away and use the smaller pieces.

Slices can be placed into petal designs. If your palate and doesn’t like supermarket marshmallows (or prefer vegan marshmallows, sugar-free marshmallows, etc.), this is also the way to get mini marshmallows.
 
WAYS TO USE MARSHMALLOWS

Beyond garnishing hot chocolate, you can:

 
MAKE YOUR OWN MARSHMALLOW DESIGNS

It’s easy to make flatter marshmallows in the shapes you like, as special garnishes. Use the marshmallows immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

We adapted this recipe from Martha Stewart. The process is the same if you want regular size marshmallows. Just use fill a baking pan to the height you want, and cut the marshmallows into the size and shape you like.

Ingredients

 
Plus

 
Preparation

1. SPRAY the baking sheet with cooking spray; line with parchment paper and spray the parchment. Set aside.

2. ADD the water to the bowl of an electric mixer. Sprinkle with gelatin and let the mixture soften (about 5 minutes).

3. PLACE the sugar, corn syrup, salt, and the second 1/3 cup water in a medium saucepan. Cover and bring to a boil. Remove lid; then cook, swirling the pan occasionally, until the syrup reaches 238°F (soft-ball stage) on a candy thermometer, about 5 minutes.

5. POUR the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and smooth with an offset spatula. Let stand uncovered at room temperature until firm, at least 3 hours or overnight.

6. CUT: Coat a 1- or 2-inch snowflake-shaped cookie cutter with cooking spray to prevent it from sticking. Cut out individual marshmallows as possible, re-spraying the cookie cutter as needed. Use the marshmallows immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week. If they become hard, pop them in the microwave for 2-3 seconds (not longer or they’ll begin to melt).
 
USING MARSHMALLOWS FOR KITCHEN TASKS

A marshmallow can stop ice cream cones from dripping, soften brown sugar, steady tapers in candle holders, and more.

Plus, tips to keep them soft, unstick th em and freeze them, and Check ‘em out.
 
THE HISTORY OF MARSHMALLOWS

The ancient Egyptians were the first to use sap from the root of the marsh mallow, a swamp plant, to make candy. (It was also used medicinally.)

Here’s the history of marshmallows.

[2] Jasmine-scented tea (photo courtesy Par Avion Tea).

[3] Earl Grey Extra Bold has more bergamot flavor (photo © Twinings).

[4] A bergamot orange: a sour orange popular for marmalade and flavoring (photo © Clove Garden).

Earl Grey is one of America’s most popular flavored teas, a Keemun base flavored with a splash of bergamot oil, the latter pressed from the peel of the bergamot sour orange from southern Italy.

The tea is named for Charles Grey (1764-1845), the second Earl Grey. A distinguished aristocrat, he served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1830 to 1834.

The story follows. Elsewhere on The Nibble, you’ll find:

> The history of tea.

> The different types of tea: a photo glossary.

> The history of the bergamot orange, that flavors Earl Grey tea.

> The year’s 23 tea holidays.
 
 
WHO INVENTED EARL GREY TEA?

There are different legends to explain how the tea recipe came to bear the Earl’s name.

According to the one told by the Grey family, the tea was specially blended for Lord Grey by a Chinese mandarin*, at Howick Hall, the family seat in Northumberland, England. The Earl never visited China.

The mandarin particularly chose bergamot to offset the preponderance of lime in the estate’s well water.

Lady Grey, a political hostess, used it to entertain in London. She had her tea blended at Twinings, beginning in 1931.

The blend proved so popular that Lady Grey was asked if it could be purchased by others. This is how Twinings came to market “Earl Grey” as a type of flavored tea.

The Greys (ostensibly lacking good business advice) did not to register the trademark. As a result, they have never received a penny from the worldwide sales.

However, they are sporting about it: Today’s boxes are signed by the current Earl Grey.

Traditionally, “Earl Grey” was made from black teas, but tea companies have since begun to offer Earl Grey in other varieties as well, such as green and oolong, along with dual-note flavors, such as the new varieties from Twinings.
 
 
TWININGS NEW EARL GREY BLENDS

Twinings North America has added to its line of Earl Grey black teas with the introduction of three new blends:

 
Stephen Twining, the tenth-generation manager of Twinings, commented:

In addition to enjoying the teas at home, you can visit the gardens at Howick Hall, the home of Earl Grey, and have tea in the Earl Grey Tea House.

Here’s more information.
 
 
DO YOU KNOW YOUR TEA TERMS?

Take a look at our fully illustrated Tea Glossary, one of the most popular of our 100 food glossaries.

[5] How about some Earl Grey cookies, topped with cinnamon sugar? Here’s the recipe (photo © Taste Of Home).
________________

*In imperial China, a mandarin was bureaucrat scholar in service of the government.
 
 

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