truffles

• Japan - Lemon Zest ganache in milk chocolate
• France - Rosé Taillevent Champagne ganache in milk chocolate
• Morocco - Fresh mint ganache in dark chocolate
• Brazil - Lime praline in milk chocolate
• Surinam -Tonka bean ganache in dark chocolate
• U.S.A. - Caramel ganache in dark chocolate

Each one of the truffles also bears the phrase "I love you" in the language of that particular country. Prices range from $32 - $112, depending on size.

Vosges has put together a luxurious collection of truffles for your Valentine, all tucked neatly into a decorative, limited edition Lucite box. Two types of truffles are included in the Luxe Gatsby Collection: Daisy and Gatsby. Daisy is a rose and white chocolate champagne truffle, topped with a pink rose petal. Gatsby is a dark chocolate champagne truffle, topped with a red petal. Underneath the chocolate array is a "love potion kit," which includes sweetened rose water syrup, pearl dust and real pearls "to add to champagne and charm your love!" It is a lovely collection that is sure to produce a more positive end result than the fictional Daisy and Gatsby's relationship. Price: $250.

Combining cake and chocolate truffles, this is the ultimate Valentine's Day dessert. The Chocolate Truffle Box Cake has a Bourbon vanilla cheesecake with a macadamia nut crust at its center and is surrounded by a white and dark chocolate box. Not just for decoration, the box lid actually comes off to reveal a layer of large chocolate truffles arranged in white chocolate "tissue paper." You have to eat or remove the truffles before getting to the cheesecake, which should not be too much of a sacrifice for a chocolate-lover, and you are unlikely to find a more well-presented cake anywhere. Price: $180.

There are a lot of expensive cocktails in the world, but there are none that use the not-so-secret ingredient that makes New York's Tini Ristorante's Truffletini so special. That ingredient, of course, is white truffle. The drink consists of Stoli peach and orange, Grand Marnier, and mango juice, shaken and then topped with a generous amount of white truffles shavings. The restaurant serves a small $95 version and a large $165 version, which comes in a 3-foot tall, 74-ounce glass that probably looks impressive but is difficult to drink from. Daniel, from NY Mag's Grub Street described it as tasting like " a creamsicle that's been rubbed down with garlic."

Yum - but I'll pass, all the same.

Although they look like small dolls or children's toys, these little Halloween characters are actually fancifully decorated chocolate truffles from teucher chocolates. The truffles are available either in champagne or "assorted" flavors, though the latter choice seems a little strange because the chocolates are sold individually. You can buy one to treat yourself, but they would make even better treats for adults at a Halloween party, since their packaging makes them seem fun, while the high-quality chocolate truffles will make even a chocolate connoisseur's mouth water. Price: $10 each.

One reason to drop in to Godiva this month is to try their Pumpkin Patch Truffles. Instead of just wrapping up chocolates in orange and black wrappers in a weak attempt at seasonality, the chocolatier goes all-out by creating a uniquely fall-flavored confection. The truffles have a pumpkin-spiced ganache center and are coated in a velvety milk chocolate. As a final touch, the truffles are lightly dusted with cinnamon before being wrapped up link miniature pumpkins - complete with tiny leaves. It's $12.50 for a 3.25-ounce package with five truffles.

Who knew that you could "experience Rastafarian culture" through chocolates? The Zion Truffle Collection from Vosages is an exquisite collection that showcases some of the flavors of Jamaica with five unique flavor blends, shown above from left to right:

• I-tal - Blue Mountain coffee, organic fresh coconut and dark chocolate
• Selassie - pumpkin puree, Jamaican pepper, dark chocolate and organic roasted pumpkin seeds
• Rasta - Appleton Estate rum, fresh ginger, white chocolate, organic hibiscus and sorrel flowers
• Kaya - hemp seed nuts and milk chocolate
• Zion - Red Stripe beer, dark chocolate and cocoa nibs

Because the truffles are made with fresh ingredients, including fresh cream, they only have a shelf-life of ten days, which should be more than enough time to polish off all 16 of the pieces that come in this collection. Price: $41.

Like Art for Chocolate combines a visual art with a culinary art, presenting 16 pieces of high end chocolate truffles in a custom-crafted wood box.  Each of the aspen boxes features an original oil painting on the lid, capturing a scene of natural beauty, done by artist M. Alexis Pichardo. The truffles are made by Albert Lauber, owner of Neuchatel Chocolates. Like Art for Chocolate is limited to 100 pieces, all of which were released specifically for Mother's Day, so they won't be available for long, though the painting is a piece of the gift that will certainly last. Each gift will be shipped in a micro-suede gift pouch and packed with artist profiles and a gift card. Price: $248.

[Thanks, Saul]

Looking for a great gift for your mom? This box of chocolate truffles from Red Envelope might be the ultimate Mother's Day gift because it is candy and a card all in one. Inside the large gift box that bears the message "Mom: Ten reasons I love you," there are ten small boxes that are inscribed with a different reason to love mom. The messages include "You let me believe ketchup is a vegetable" and "You give great hugs." The best part - assuming that your mom is a chocolate fan - is that each box contains a delicious chocolate truffle topped with a bit of edible, 24-karat gold. Price: $32.

We know it's the thought that counts, but when the thought  includes chocolate it's hard to go wrong. And your mom would probably agree.

Lavish, adventurous and wrapped up with a big purple bow, the Olive Oil and Italiano Gift Box from Vosges Chocolate is the perfect gift for a mom who is a little bit of a foodie. Instead of the usual box of chocolates, the Vosages gift has a 750-ml bottle of Lucini Extra Virgin Olive Oil and a box of nine unique truffles in five different flavors. They include:

Rooster- Italian taleggio cheese, organic walnuts and Tahitian vanilla beans with bittersweet dark chocolate

Olio d'oliva- extra virgin olive oil and white chocolate with dried Kalamata olives

Balsamico- 10 year old balsamic vinegar and dark chocolate with roasted Sicilian hazelnuts

Sale del Mare- Sicilian sea salt caramel and milk chocolate with pine nuts

Finnochio- Wild Tuscan fennel pollen with dark chocolate and anise

The olio d'olive truffle is made with the same type of olive oil included with the gift. Mom is certain to remember the unusual and delicious flavor combinations in the truffles. Price: $56.

A British chef has concocted what is, essentially, an incredibly expensive cheese on toast. Tom Bridge's version of the usually frugal dish known as rarebit, or cheese on toast, is dressed up with L'Aquila White Umbrian truffles and matsutake mushrooms on top of Warburtons Toastie white bread and Lancashire cheese. The toast and cheese are the ordinary ones that Bridges uses in his home. The asking price is £345, or about $600, and the chance to have Chef Bridge make it for you in your own home will be auctioned off on eBay.