How long do these strawberries stay fresh?

Because the berries are picked at peak ripeness rather than early for shipping, they should be eaten within a couple of days of arrival. Store them in the refrigerator until you're ready to enjoy them.

Why are these only available in winter months?

The hydroponic greenhouse operation harvests these Albion strawberries from October through February, extending the season well beyond traditional strawberry availability. The controlled environment allows the berries to reach full aromatic ripeness during months when field-grown strawberries aren't at their best.

What's the difference between the two chocolate varieties?

The Costa Esmeraldas chocolate from Ecuador has delicately fruity notes that echo the strawberry's own flavor, while the Maya Mountain chocolate from Belize is creamier and offers a rounder contrast to the berry's acidity. Both are 70% cacao and selected to complement the fruit's floral brightness.

Can I choose which chocolate drizzle I prefer?

The twelve strawberries arrive with a mix of both chocolate varieties—some drizzled with the fruity Costa Esmeraldas and others with the creamy Maya Mountain. This pairing is curated to showcase how different cacao origins interact with the same fruit.

Chocolate-Drizzled Strawberries

Small batch
Family owned
Recycled materials

The 3-second version

Delivered within days of harvest for peak sweetness and aroma
Two single-origin 70% chocolates complement the berries' flavor
Grown hydroponically with solar power and recycled water
Must be eaten within days of delivery
Overnight shipping only
Limited October–February availability

Why it's on GiftsFeed

Fresh Strawberries Hand-Drizzled with Single-Origin Chocolate

Most chocolate-covered strawberries use fruit that was picked early and shipped cross-country, then dipped in compound coating to mask the lack of flavor. These reverse the formula: berries grown for aroma and harvested the day before delivery, paired with actual chocolate made from traceable cacao. The hydroponic greenhouse model means you're getting winter strawberries that taste like June, not berries bred to survive February shipping. If you've ever been disappointed by a mid-winter strawberry, this is the version that actually delivers on the promise.

Good gift when

People who notice the difference between ripe and supermarket fruit
Chocolate enthusiasts who appreciate single-origin cacao
Anyone seeking fresh berries in fall and winter months
Those who value sustainable growing methods

Skip it if You'll need to eat these within a couple of days of arrival, as the berries are picked at full ripeness and won't hold the way underripe fruit does.

Specs

Quantity: 12 strawberries
Chocolate varieties: 70% Costa Esmeraldas, Ecuador and 70% Maya Mountain, Belize
Strawberry variety: Albion
Growing method: Hydroponic
Farm location: Monterey County, California
Harvest to delivery: Within 24 hours of picking
Seasonal availability: October through February
Energy source: Solar power and recycled water

What's included

12 fresh Albion strawberries hand-drizzled with chocolate
Two varieties of 70% single-origin chocolate (Costa Esmeraldas, Ecuador and Maya Mountain, Belize)

If you're giving it

No sizing to guess
Arrives ready to give

Ships overnight only and must be eaten within days, so coordinate delivery timing with the recipient.

The maker

A third-generation Japanese-American family operates the greenhouse farm in Monterey County, building wooden structures and installing solar panels to create a sustainable growing environment. Every berry is hand-picked at the moment of aromatic perfection, then delivered to San Francisco within a day.

The chocolatiers receive the berries still fragrant from the greenhouse and hand-drizzle each one with chocolate made from cacao beans they source directly from farms in Ecuador and Belize. The pairing process focuses on complementary tasting notes—matching the berries' floral sweetness and gentle acidity with chocolate that enhances rather than masks those characteristics.

This collaboration exists because both the farm and the chocolate maker prioritize ripeness and flavor over shelf life. The berries can't sit in a warehouse, and the chocolate isn't stabilized with extra fats or emulsifiers. What you receive is perishable by design, meant to be tasted within the narrow window when both components are at their best.

The details

A dozen strawberries at the height of their sweetness arrive hand-drizzled with single-origin chocolate, combining berries picked within twenty-four hours of harvest with cacao from Ecuador and Belize. Each of the twelve berries is coated in either a delicately fruity chocolate from Costa Esmeraldas or a creamy variety from Maya Mountain, both at 70% cacao content, selected to match the strawberries' floral brightness and gentle acidity.

The berries themselves come from a hydroponic greenhouse operation in Monterey County, California, where Albion strawberries grow in wooden structures powered by solar energy and recycled water. Harvested from October through February—well outside the traditional strawberry season—these berries reach peak aromatic ripeness before they're picked by hand and delivered to San Francisco the next day.

Each berry is firm, plump, and deeply fragrant, with a sweetness that holds even in winter months when most strawberries fall short. The chocolate drizzle adds complementary notes without overwhelming the fruit: the Costa Esmeraldas brings subtle fruit tones that echo the berry's own flavor, while the Maya Mountain offers a rounder, creamier contrast to the strawberry's acidity.

Because these are picked at their most fragile moment of perfection, they arrive ready to eat and won't keep long. The overnight-only delivery ensures they reach you within days of leaving the greenhouse, preserving the texture and aroma that define truly ripe strawberries. You're tasting fruit and chocolate together at their intended peak, not a preserved version of either.

Dandelion Chocolate

Chocolate-Drizzled Strawberries

Hydroponically grown Albion berries at peak ripeness, paired with two 70% cacao varieties

$96at dandelionchocolate.com

Quantity

Ships and sold by Dandelion Chocolate. About this merchant

The 3-second version

Delivered within days of harvest for peak sweetness and aroma
Two single-origin 70% chocolates complement the berries' flavor
Grown hydroponically with solar power and recycled water
Must be eaten within days of delivery
Overnight shipping only
Limited October–February availability

Cheaper alternatives

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries$20

Questions

How long do these strawberries stay fresh?: Because the berries are picked at peak ripeness rather than early for shipping, they should be eaten within a couple of days of arrival. Store them in the refrigerator until you're ready to enjoy them.
Why are these only available in winter months?: The hydroponic greenhouse operation harvests these Albion strawberries from October through February, extending the season well beyond traditional strawberry availability. The controlled environment allows the berries to reach full aromatic ripeness during months when field-grown strawberries aren't at their best.
What's the difference between the two chocolate varieties?: The Costa Esmeraldas chocolate from Ecuador has delicately fruity notes that echo the strawberry's own flavor, while the Maya Mountain chocolate from Belize is creamier and offers a rounder contrast to the berry's acidity. Both are 70% cacao and selected to complement the fruit's floral brightness.
Can I choose which chocolate drizzle I prefer?: The twelve strawberries arrive with a mix of both chocolate varieties—some drizzled with the fruity Costa Esmeraldas and others with the creamy Maya Mountain. This pairing is curated to showcase how different cacao origins interact with the same fruit.