Life is not like a box of chocolates. Real Simple disproved once and for all the most simplistic movie line of 1994 (and maybe ever) by dutifully tasting special selections, old-fashioned collections, and handcrafted confections to determine which chocolates out there are the tastiest, prettiest, and easiest to order. (The antioxidants in chocolate may help prevent cancer and heart disease, so think of it as health food.) Whether it's a handmade designer masterpiece or a beloved timeless treat, a $3.88 sugar-dusted truffle or a 23-cent caramel cream, we take the mystery out of what makes a well-made chocolate. Now you'll know what you're going to get.

Best Small Kitchen

L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates
In his New Hampshire shop, Larry Burdick blends French, Swiss, and Venezuelan chocolate with local honey, vanilla beans from Mexico, and dried fruits from Turkey. His signature mice nest among triple-caramel and cognac truffles.

Real Simple Staffer:"Precious yet unpretentious chocolates."

To order: Go to www.burdickchocolate.com, or call 800-229-2419. Second-day air delivery is available. Small box (about 16 pieces), $16.

Also try: Treats from Brooklyn-based Jacques Torres, a.k.a. Mr. Chocolate (www.jacquestorres.com).

Best American Classic

See's Famous Old Time Candies
A picture of Mary See has blessed every box since 1921. And See's confections, including nuts, chews, and California Brittle, are still made with her recipes.

Real Simple Staffer: "My mom isn't allowed to visit from California without bringing a box."

To buy: Go to www.sees.com, or call 800-915-7337. Overnight delivery available. One-pound box (about 26 pieces), $12.

Also try: Indiana favorite DeBrand Fine Chocolates (www.debrand.com). The Valentine boxes are collectors' items.

Best Signature Confection

Teuscher Champagne Truffles
The decadent house specialty of this 65-year-old Swiss company — a milk-chocolate truffle filled with a champagne cream center and dusted with powdered sugar — is highly romantic.

Real Simple Staffer: "The chocolate equivalent of a weak-kneed kiss."

To order: Go to www.teuscherchocolate.com, or call 800-554-0924. Overnight delivery available. Six-ounce box (12 pieces), $46.50.

Also try: No-holds-barred Gold Bars from Fran's Chocolates in Seattle (www.franschocolates.com).

Best Exotic Recipes

Vosges Haut Chocolat
This Chicago chocolatier uses purple violets, Chinese star anise, and sweet Hungarian paprika to bring vibrant flavors to its picture-perfect truffles. A must-try is the Black Pearl, dark chocolate infused with ginger and wasabi and sprinkled with black sesame seeds.

Real Simple Staffer: "Surprising flavors, yet very pure."

To order: Go to www.vosgeschocolate.com, or call 888-301-9866. Overnight delivery available. Eight-ounce box (16 pieces), $32.

Best Commercial

Godiva
With more than 200 boutiques and 1,000 shops in department and specialty stores in the United States, Godiva dominates the market for widely available premium chocolate. Good news: The chocolate's pretty tasty. Assortments include honey-roasted-almond truffles, as well as five flavors created for the company's 75th anniversary in 2001.

Real Simple Staffer: "Decadent, in a Donald Trump kind of way."

To buy: Go to www.godiva.com, or call 800-946-3482. Overnight delivery available. Twelve-piece Valentine Box (7.25 ounces), $22.

Best High-End Artisanal

Confections by Michawl Recchiuti
Combining a delicate synergy of flavors with modern, meticulous design, this San Francisco confectioner makes exquisite chocolates infused with burnt caramel and a candied orange peel that's bathed in sugar syrup for two days.

Real Simple Staffer: "Think detail-obsessed Mies van der Rohe in Candy Land."

To order: Call 800-500-3396. Express shipping available. Eight-ounce box (16 pieces), $40.

Also try: Paris-based La Maison du Chocolat (www.lamaisonduchocolat.com).

Best Drugstore

Russell Stover Candies
Despite being the largest producer of boxed chocolates in the United States, Russell Stover hasn't gotten fancy. As chocolate expert Alice Medrich says, "It is what it is."

Real Simple Staffer: "Keep your liquor-infused truffles. Give me something that tastes like Valentine's Day."

To buy: Go to your local drug, card, or grocery store, or call 800-777-4028. One-pound box (about 30 pieces), $7.

Also try: Medrich's last-minute gift: At a gourmet grocery, buy high-quality bars, such as those from Scharffen Berger or Valrhona, and tie them with a ribbon.