Chocolate is credited as the main ingredient for a successful Valentine’s Day, but what about the other dairy products? What about the cheese? Why have chocolate fondues when there are cheese fondues? We have cheesy romcoms, but we neglect the true, solid liquid gold. 

Chocolate is often credited for being an old-school aphrodisiac because of its chemical composition of Phenylethylamine (PEA/The “love hormone” that helps release dopamine); Flavonoids that increase blood flow; and Anandamide (the “bliss hormone”) that can reduce stress (KitchenGrove). Cheese has many of the same ingredients and has tyrosine, which “helps increase serotonin levels in the brain” (CheeseMaker). Cheese even has an addictive quality similar to that of drugs because of Casomorphin that can trigger a similar effect (LATimes). 

Why give a predictable gift like chocolates when you can give someone cheese: a thoughtful present that takes real consideration into what type the recipient would truly enjoy. If cheese isn’t up to the aesthetic of the holiday, why not consider a heart-shaped cheese? Its history dates back to five centuries ago in Neufchâtel in Normandy, France, formed from rather scandalous roots of village girls expressing their affections for English occupier soldiers (GodMinster). 

This year, consider cheddar instead of chocolate for your loved one. It’s a gift sure to melt into their memories and keep them coming back to you like an addict. And if that person is lactose intolerant, hand them a lactase pill on the side with a heart drawn on it. Break free from Big Chocolate and its decades of pushing diabetes-inducing, melty messes. Stick to fromage that at least has vitamins, calcium, and protein that will help them live a longer life with you.