Hearts and flowers are all well and good. And jewelry gets the job done, admirably. But on Valentine’s Day, nothing gets to the heart of the matter like chocolate.

When you give your love a box of truffles and bonbons, you’re sending a few powerful, yet subliminal, messages:

. I want you to be healthy (dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants, and it could keep blood pressure down, too).

. You are so slender and sexy, you obviously need a few extra calories.

. I’m happy when you’re happy (chocolate contains phenylethylamine, a chemical that replicates the feeling of falling in love or other random happy events, such as winning the lottery or scoring a great pair of designer shoes on clearance).

. I’m in the mood for love. According to the folks at Godiva, chocolate has been considered an aphrodisiac since the 1500s.

See? You’re a romantic genius, and chances are, you probably didn’t even realize it. Humility is extremely appealing. So is intelligence.

Oh, and so are these chocolates, made by a few of our favorite local confectioners. Grab a dozen. Or two. Better yet, feed them to your Valentine, one by one, preferably by candlelight. If that doesn’t send the right message, we don’t know what does.

The Chocolate Barn

89 Main St., Ellsworth (667-9595)

www.chocolatebarn.com

Tempt your Valentine with strawberries wrapped in chocolate. Indulge in a nutmeg-dusted cappuccino truffle. Or, if you have a dinner-and-a-movie date planned, smuggle The Chocolate Barn’s legendary malt balls into the theater – if your fingers touch as you both reach into the bag, so much the better.

Monica’s Chocolates

56 Pleasant St., Lubec (866-952-4500)

www.monicaschocolates.com

Available at The Store-Ampersand in Orono, State Street Wine Cellar and Natural Living Center in Bangor, Market Basket in Rockport. For a full list of retailers, which is too lengthy to print here, visit the Web site.

It’s easy to fall for Monica Elliott’s whimsical sea creatures. And her truffles are amazing. But she’s known for her bonbons, wrapped in colorful foil and loaded with Peruvian filling. Note for lovers: they’re big enough to share.

Black Dinah Chocolatiers

1 Moore’s Harbor Road, Isle au Haut (335-5010)

www.blackdinahchocolatiers.com

Available at Blue Hill Co-Op and John Edwards Market in Ellsworth

Not surprisingly, some of the most romantic chocolates around – such as the chili-and-vanilla-laced Sexy Mexi and a heart-shaped lemon truffle adorned with gold leaf – are made by a couple. Kate and Steve Shaffer draw inspiration from their own lives – and the amazing scenery that surrounds them. It shows: Their chocolates are the prettiest we’ve seen (and they taste great, too).

Katie’s on the Cove

9 Katie Lane, Robbinston, 454-8446

www.katiesonthecove.com.

Available at Raye’s Mustard Mill in Eastport, Quoddy Tides Gift Shop in Eastport, Jordan Gardens Florist in Machias and Treworgy’s Pharmacy in Calais.

In a tiny, flower-bedecked building overlooking a picturesque cove, Lea and Joseph Sullivan turn out some of the state’s most intriguing flavor combinations. We’re smitten with the Raye’s Mustard truffles, which need to be tasted to be believed, but the blueberry-cranberry clusters are pretty amazing, too.

Bayside Chocolates

37 Water St., Lubec (888-816-8880) or 733-8880

www.baysidechocolates.com

Available at John Edwards Market in Ellsworth and A&B Natural in Bar Harbor – for a full list of retail locations, visit the Web site.

As caffeine fiends, we’re intrigued by the creamy-crunchy coffee cup, filled with coffee cream and espresso beans. And the Puffin’s Nest, a coconut-peanut extravaganza, has a loyal following. But Eugene Greenlaw’s true genius is apparent in his coffee brandy truffles, which sell out as soon as he makes them. A true Maine classic.

B. Potter Wine Chocolates

www.bpwinechocolates.com

Available at Winterport Winery, The Grasshopper Shop in Bangor and Bangor Wine & Cheese

Winterport Winery’s fruit-flavored wines are a fabulous foil for Becky Potter’s rich chocolate ganache centers. Potter makes these by hand in small batches, and each is a decadent treat. Skip straight to dessert and serve these with a bottle of wine.

Smart Sisters Creations

Available at Ron’s Cafe in Brewer

Sisters Ruth Way and Rachel Philbrick make whimsical shapes in white and milk chocolate – the “key to my heart” and heart lollipops are grand. But why not tell your man you need him with needhams? The sisters make these the old-fashioned way – and, judging by the $3.25 price tag for an ample box – they price them that way, too. Yummy.