Take a tip from President Obama and indulge in salted caramels for Valentine's Day

President Barack Obama can take some of the credit for the recent surge in sales of salted caramels, but Lauren Adler, owner of sweets boutique Chocolopolis, has a more fundamental explanation for our obsession with the combination of chocolate, caramel and salt: "It's just good."

Chocolopolis sells several different salted caramel confections, which Alder says are the most popular items in the store. Below are the salted caramels on offer at the Queen Anne shop, along with a few more of our favorite locally available salty-sweet treats.

Christopher Elbow: sea salt caramel
The best selling treat from Chocolopolis' truffle counter, this is a runny caramel with a hint of sea salt inside. "It's great for the customer who prefers a soft, liquid caramel," says Adler. "A truly adult treat -- but kids love it, too!" $2.25 each at Chocolopolis.

Lillie Belle Farms: lavender caramel
Sunset magazine named these caramels from Central Point, Oregon, "The Best in the West." Chewy caramel is infused with lavender and topped with Fleur de Sel. $2.25 each at Chocolopolis.

Theo Chocolate: ghost chili salt caramel
Spice things up on Valentine's Day with these sultry caramels from Theo. Ghost chili-infused caramel is covered in chocolate and topped with bits of salt and chili. $2.25 each at Chocolopolis.

Fran's Chocolates: salted caramels
President Obama favors the milk chocolate-covered caramels with smoked salt on top from Seattle's own Fran Bigelow. His wife, Michelle, prefers Fran's dark chocolate-covered caramels sprinkled with gray salt. $11.50 for seven pieces, $24 for 16 pieces at Fran's stores, Metropolitan Market stores and the Chocolate Box.

Cadeaux Chocolates: vanilla caramel with fleur de sel
Local chocolatier Janet Shimada dips vanilla caramel in bittersweet chocolate and sprinkles it with sea salt.$2 each at Caffe Fiore, Ballard Market, Bella Cosa Foods, Sunset Hill Green Market or janet@cadeauxchocolates.com.

Cupcake Royale: salted caramel cupcake
Cupcake Royale's cupcake of the month for February is made of dark chocolate cake and topped with sweet, salty caramel butter cream, dark chocolate curls and a pinch of Fleur de Sel. $2.75 each, buy a dozen and the 12th cupcake is free.

Molly Moon's: salted caramel ice cream
Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream in Wallingford sells twice as much of their homemade salted caramel ice cream as any other flavor. Top it with rich, gooey hot fudge and you've got a chilly version of Fran's salted caramels. $3 plus tax for a single scoop; $5 (no tax) for a pint.

Häagen-Dazs: Reserve Fleur de Sel Caramel ice cream
It may not be made here, but it's available in just about every grocery store in town, so if you forget to pick up chocolates for your sweetheart on Valentine's Day, swing by your local market and pick up a pint. Chocolate-covered fleur de sel caramels are blended into caramel ice cream ribboned with caramel and sprinkled with French sea salt. About $4 per pint, price varies by store.

Starbucks: Salted Caramel Signature Hot Chocolate
In this liquid version of a salted caramel, hot chocolate is combined with the flavors of caramel and smoked sea salt, and topped with whipped cream, a swirl of caramel and a mixture of artisan sea salt and Turbinado sugar from Hawaii. $2.55 to $3.70 (short to venti), plus tax.

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