The sweetest day of the year has arrived, and we can’t wait for the indulgence of International Chocolate Day this September 13. From intricately designed chocolates from a box filled with sticky caramel or truffled delights to classic bars, we’re mad about chocolate.

But we’re also mad for cigars and discovering what food to pair with our favorite stogies. Join us as we find the best chocolate and cigar pairings to enjoy for International Chocolate Day 2022.

Chocolate and cigars may seem worlds apart, but they share at least one fundamental similarity — they’re both to be enjoyed. While each offers a different experience, they’re both the epitome of indulgence and completely irresistible.

Some cigars even share a similar flavor profile to chocolate. Those with creamy, nutty, and coffee notes are elevated by sipping hot chocolate for a cigar and drink pairing or nibbling on some Reese’s Pieces. While the cigars are a delectable experience on their own, the flavors of some become even more decadent with chocolate.

Of course, there’s also the fact that the cocoa beans used to make chocolate are cultivated similarly to the tobacco leaves used to create cigars. Like many tobaccos are grown across Central and South America, so are cacao trees, which also thrive in tropical climates.

Additionally, cacao beans and tobacco undergo extensive fermentation to develop their unique flavor. With sharing similar growing conditions, each requiring dedicated time and care, it’s no surprise that chocolate and cigars go hand-in-hand.

Cigar pairing of any kind is an art, and what you smoke with your sweet treat should be chosen with care. We’ve selected our top five recommendations of cigars to pair with chocolate for International Chocolate Day.

La Aroma cigars are a luxury brand from the master cigarmaker, Jose “Pepin” Garcia. They’re known for their unmatched consistency and unique tobacco flavors across their cigars. When pairing with chocolate, we’d recommend the de Cuba Mi Amor Magnifico 6 x 52 stick. It’s primarily a Nicaraguan cigar but features a reddish-brown wrapper from Mexico.

A classic Parejo shape, this cigar offers prominent hits of earth and cream, enhanced when paired with dark chocolate that also complements the top notes of spice.

This Garcia family special is a Nicaraguan wonder with an Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper that is delectably dark and creamy. The My Father Flor de Las Antillas Maduro has a wonderfully complex blend of wood, espresso, almonds, earth, and, you guessed it – chocolate. We’d recommend pairing this stick with classic milk chocolate that will enhance the irresistible creaminess that carries the other flavors throughout the entirety of the smoke.

The Cohiba Blue is a global cigar, with a Honduras wrapper and binder working alongside Dominican, Honduran, and Nicaraguan long filler tobaccos. It’s a delightful cigar rolled with indulgence in mind, so it’s a no-brainer to have a box of chocolates on hand when you smoke this stick. The array of flavors means this cigar will pair with almost any chocolate you like – whether it’s white, dark, or milk, you can find something that works with the earthy and leathery base notes, as well as those notable hits of cocoa, cinnamon, and caramel.

If you have a Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel-Aged Maduro ready to pluck from your personal humidor, we’d recommend pairing it with some sweet, white chocolate. An aged Maduro wrapper that is dark on the eyes is also bold on the palate. This smoke gives you a strong sense of dark roasted coffee and bourbon whiskey. While the more subtle hits of cocoa, almond, and leather help balance the initial intense flavors, a few white chocolate squares would help mellow down this cigar.

Davidoff Winston Churchill Late Hour is a stunning cigar easily recognized by its impressive size and dark Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. Thanks to its Nicaraguan long filler tobacco aged in single-malt whiskey casks, this cigar is wonderfully aromatic with a thick-bodied smoke. It delivers sharp notes of cinnamon, spice, espresso, oak, and black pepper that are gently smoothed with a buttery texture. We feel this cigar would go perfectly with a hot chocolate topped with whipped cream – a perfect combination for International Chocolate Day and those earlier fall weeks.