--- description: Have a box of chocolates, but want to know which filling is which? title: How to Decode a Box of Chocolates image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7c1b408b419bb130/69877e8635ba6f01a0c06fdc/103300225-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Living](/tag/time-section-living/) ## Living Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # How to Decode a Box of Chocolates by [Real Simple](/author/real-simple/) ## Real Simple Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 11, 2015 4:33 PM CUT  Assortment of sweets in box Assortment of sweets in boxGetty Images by [Real Simple](/author/real-simple/) ## Real Simple Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 11, 2015 4:33 PM CUT Life has its share of mysteries, but the contents of a box of drugstore chocolates (think Russell Stover and Godiva) doesn’t have to be one of them. Most follow the same plan, largely for practical reasons. Square and rectangular treats typically have crunchy or chewy centers: “Fillings like caramel and toffee cool on large slabs, then are cut at right angles and dipped in chocolate,” says Tom Ward, the president and CEO of Russell Stover. Circular and oval treats almost always contain soft fillings, such as ganache or cream. Nut candies have easy-to-read bumpy surfaces. And a shiny foil wrapper signals an ooey-gooey liquid center. (The foil protects against leaks.) See, you _do_ know what you’re going to get. Sorry, Mama Gump! **Top Treats** Which chocolate in a heart-shaped box is the most likely to disappear first? According to a 2013 survey by the National Confectioners Association, the classic caramel is the most loved—about 34 percent of those polled called it their favorite. Second place goes to nut-filled, and chocolate ganache takes the bronze. _This_ [_article_](http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/shopping-storing/box-chocolates?xid=time-rs "undefined") _originally appeared on_ [_RealSimple.com_](http://www.realsimple.com/ "undefined")_._ _More from Real Simple:_ * [Easy Ways to Melt Chocolate](http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/cooking-tips-techniques/baking/melt-chocolate?xid=time-rs "undefined") * [Favorite Chocolate Dessert Recipes](http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/recipe-collections-favorites/desserts/5-star-chocolate-dessert-recipes?xid=time-rs "undefined") * [The Sweet Truth About Chocolate](http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/shopping-storing/food/sweet-truth-about-chocolate?xid=time-rs "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3703986/decode-chocolate-box/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3703986/decode-chocolate-box/"},"headline":"How to Decode a Box of Chocolates","datePublished":"2015-02-11T16:33:15.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T08:56:43.564Z","description":"Have a box of chocolates, but want to know which filling is which?","url":"https://time.com/3703986/decode-chocolate-box/","keywords":["Living","Food & Drink","chocolate","Valentine's Day"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7c1b408b419bb130/69877e8635ba6f01a0c06fdc/103300225-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Real Simple","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/real-simple/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7c1b408b419bb130/69877e8635ba6f01a0c06fdc/103300225-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"chocolate-box","caption":"chocolate-box","creditText":"Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-living/","name":"Living"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3703986/decode-chocolate-box/","name":"How to Decode a Box of Chocolates"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"The Business of Creativity: The Chocolate Makers","description":"The Mast brothers followed their passion for chocolate to create a growing artisan business in Brooklyn, NY","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/DhKufoJq/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2012-12-27T17:39:31.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/DhKufoJq.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/3703986/decode-chocolate-box/","duration":"PT4M13S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/3703986/decode-chocolate-box/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```