Did you know… the iconic heart-shaped chocolate box was born in the 19th century?

A staple of Valentine’s Day around the world. Have you ever wondered where the tradition of giving chocolate in a heart-shaped box originated?

Chocolate has been associated with love for centuries, but it wasn’t until the mid-19th century that it became a popular gift among lovers for Valentine’s Day.

Although the Aztecs are often credited with establishing the connection between chocolate and love, Richard Cadbury is the man behind one of today’s most popular Valentine’s gifts: the heart-shaped box of chocolates. In the early 1840s, Valentine’s Day began to evolve into a commercial holiday focused on gift-giving, but it wasn’t until 1868 that Richard first introduced the heart-shaped box.

As Valentine’s Day grew in popularity, so did the sales of luxury goods and gifts purchased for the occasion. Richard decorated his chocolate boxes with illustrations of his family, Alpine scenes, and other beautiful images. With these additions, the boxes became more than just something to eat and discard — they turned into keepsakes.

During the Victorian era, many recipients of these heart-shaped boxes enjoyed the sweets and then kept the box to store cards, locks of hair, and other treasured Valentine’s mementos.

Although Richard’s heart-shaped chocolate box was a great success, he never actually patented his creation.

Today, it is estimated that more than…