All in the name of research (ahem), Stylist.co.uk has tried and tested the best luxury chocolate hampers on the market this Christmas. It was a tough job but someone had to do it...

Hotel Chocolat

The Adventurous, £35 from Hotel Chocolat, explores the savoury side of the sweet stuff. We loved trying the dips and flavours, especially the strange Honey & Mustard Dressing with Cocoa Nibs and Chilli and Cocoa chicken glaze. Weird but wonderful.

Buy for: Foodie Friends

Charbonnel et Walker

Bubbles and truffles are a classic combination, and this hamper reminds you why. The chocolates (lightly dusted confections with a buttery, milk chocolate, Champagney centre) are ridiculously moreish – we cracked open the box and they were gone within minutes. But calories be dammed, if you can’t sip champagne and eat chocolates at this time of year, when can you? Pink champagne hamper (£50)

Buy for: Your other half

Rococo

The king of the hampers, Stylist no sooner looked at this quirky blue and white beribboned box and it was open. Inside are bags of classic treats, from Jello Love Babes to Floral Creams. At £150 it's not cheap, but it is most definitely worth it. Nebuchadnezzar Hamper

Buy for: Lucky siblings

Harrods

Milk, dark, caramel or pink, there is every possible offering in this Harrods' Celebration of Chocolate Hamper (£85). Each comes in its own ballotin (a lovely, fancy box), which means every new flavour requires opening something new. And what could be more Chrismassy than that?

Buy for: The girls or your mum

John Lewis

If the weather was warmer, we’d love to take this wicker basket hamper to some sunny spot. As it is we’ll settle for staying in and enjoying John Lewis’ The Chocolate Hamper £35. There are coffee dippers from the CocoaBean company and Farrah’s Chocolate Covered Fudge, not to mention Black Jack Snacks chocolate covered nuts and raisins, Essential Dressing's luxury fudge sauce, Tradecraft Fairtrade cookies and Heames chocolate discs. Beats soggy sandwiches any day.

Buy for: In-laws