Sweet tooths all over the world have already tried Dubai Chocolate. What started out as a small venture in Dubai has become a huge sensation, thanks in no small part to social media. Dubai Chocolate is both creamy and crunchy, and filled with pistachios. We’ll reveal which ingredients are essential for this treat and how you can recognize the original Dubai Chocolate.
What exactly is Dubai chocolate?
Dubai Chocolate has gained fans all over the world. Influencers rave about this sweet treat and share it with their followers. Even though it has since inspired imitators around the globe, the candy was created in Dubai. The original is still available only in the United Arab Emirates.
Dubai Chocolate isn’t just any ordinary chocolate—or is it? Milk or dark chocolate forms the base of this treat. What makes Dubai Chocolate so unique is its special filling, which is unlike anything seen in chocolate before. We’ll take a closer look at the ingredients in Dubai chocolate. Ultimately, the ingredient list is quite straightforward. The combination of creamy and crunchy textures is what makes for such a special taste experience.
Where does Original Dubai Chocolate come from?
As is so often the case in life, it all started small. Sarah Hamouda was pregnant for the second time. She just couldn’t seem to satisfy her sweet tooth. She needed something unusual, something new. Finally, she decided to take matters into her own hands and began experimenting with different ingredients in 2021. The result left her wanting more, and a business idea was born.
Sarah Hamouda founded the company Fix Dessert Chocolatier, which continues to produce and sell the original Dubai Chocolate to this day. The trend spread to Germany in December 2023. Maria Vehera first showed the chocolate with the green filling on camera on TikTok. Kiki Aweimer picked up on the food trend. The influencer had Dubai Chocolate produced in Germany for the first time.
The candy really took off in the fall of 2024. Influencers with large followings helped spread it worldwide. In Germany, too, leading candy manufacturers now carry Dubai Chocolate in their product lines. The term is not trademarked. The filling has been adapted and used in ice cream, gingerbread, and even “Dubai-style” sausages.
Ingredients Check – What’s in It?
The ingredients in Dubai chocolate are straightforward. The original Dubai chocolate contains the following ingredients:
- Chocolate
- Pistachio cream or pistachio paste
- Kadayif strands
- Tahini (sesame paste)
Butter, sugar, and milk are also added. Camel milk is often used to make chocolate in Dubai. Let’s take a closer look at each ingredient.
Chocolate
Nothing works without chocolate. Dubai Chocolate resembles a chocolate bar in shape and features large, brick-shaped squares. Dark chocolate is used to make the original Dubai Chocolate. The chocolate used in the original candy comes from Max Felchlin AG in Switzerland. The company, based in the town of Schwyz, is known for producing fine chocolate and also supplies major customers in the U.S. and Japan.
Pistachio Cream
Pistachio cream is the most important ingredient in Dubai chocolate. The cream gives the filling its color, creaminess, and flavor. Making pistachio cream is quite labor-intensive. Pistachios with a particularly intense flavor grow in Sicily. Pistachio cream is lightly sweetened and can be used in many different ways:
- Cakes with Pistachio Cream
- Spread
- Puff Pastry
- Croissants
- Toppings
- Ice
- Sauces
When buying Dubai chocolate, look for a product with the highest possible percentage of pistachio cream.
Kadayif
“Can’t Get Knafeh of It”—that’s how Dubai Chocolate is marketed in the United Arab Emirates. The pun means something like “can’t get enough of kadayif.” So this ingredient is a must. But what exactly is kadayif? These thin strands of dough are also called “angel hair.” They’re made from a simple dough of water and flour. The dough is rolled out ultra-thin and then cut into fine strips. These strips are so thin that the name “angel hair” is well-deserved.
Kadayif is an integral part of Greek, Turkish, and Arabic cuisine. Kadaifi is a dessert made of stuffed angel hair. The filling consists of almonds or walnuts, seasoned with cloves and cinnamon. After baking, the dessert is soaked in sugar syrup. In Arab cuisine, the nutty filling is less common; instead, the dough strands are typically filled with cream cheese. When used as an ingredient in Dubai chocolate, the pastry strands are not filled but are cut into small pieces and added to the pistachio cream and the other ingredients.
Tahini (sesame paste)
When you order Dubai chocolate, be sure to check the ingredient list. Authentic Dubai chocolate made in Dubai contains tahini. Products sold in Europe often do not include this sesame paste.
Tahini can be made from hulled or unhulled sesame seeds. Sesame paste made from unhulled seeds is darker and richer in vitamins. There are about 10 grams of fiber per 100 grams. Both types of sesame seeds are often used. If only hulled sesame seeds are used, the result is white tahini.
To make sesame paste, the seeds are soaked in water and then ground so that the bran separates from the seeds. If the seeds are soaked in salt water, the bran sinks to the bottom. The seeds float to the surface and are skimmed off, roasted, and ground. The result is an oily paste. If sesame paste is made from unroasted seeds, it is called raw tahini.
Tahini contains several healthy ingredients:
- Vitamin B1
- Vitamin B2
- Vitamin B6
- Iron
- Copper
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Phosphorus
- Zinc
- Calcium
- Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids
Tahini is popular among vegetarians and vegans and is often used as a spread. You’ve probably had hummus before. This chickpea puree is made up of about 30 to 40 percent tahini.
Why is chocolate so expensive in Dubai?
Dubai chocolate is all the rage. Demand is high. With prices around 15 euros, a bar of this chocolate isn’t exactly a bargain. The production process is quite labor-intensive. High-quality ingredients also justify the price. To ensure the price truly reflects the product’s value, it’s worth taking a look at the ingredient list. High-quality Dubai chocolate contains a high percentage of cocoa and pistachios.
The cost of purchasing the ingredients can be broken down as follows:
- Bar of chocolate = 1.11 euros
- Pistachio cream = 4.95 euros
- Kadayif strands = 3.99 euros
This results in a unit cost of 10.05 euros. If you were to make a bar of Dubai chocolate yourself using these ingredients, the price would be 6.12 euros.
It’s not just the quality of the ingredients that ultimately influences the price of the final product. Production and marketing costs are also factored into the calculation of the final price. Dubai chocolate symbolizes luxury and exclusivity. Its limited availability is another factor that explains—and justifies—the relatively high price of this treat.
Is Dubai Chocolate gluten-free?
Everyone wants to enjoy Dubai chocolate. But not everyone can indulge freely, since they have to eliminate certain ingredients from their diet. People with celiac disease cannot eat gluten. The protein in grains can damage the lining of the small intestine in those affected and lead to inflammation and digestive problems.
The fact is: Dubai chocolate is not gluten-free, because kadayif is made from wheat flour and therefore contains gluten. Gluten-free kadayif is rarely available in Germany. If you want to make your own gluten-free Dubai chocolate, you can use gluten-free whole-grain rice vermicelli instead of kadayif.
Dubai Chocolate Meets Dates
Once you’ve developed a taste for Dubai chocolate, you really can’t get enough of it. So why not get creative and try out some new recipe ideas? One option is dates and chocolate from Dubai. Pistachios and dates go very well together.
To make Dubai chocolate-covered dates, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- Dates
- Pistachio Cream
- Kadayif
- Chocolate
Dates and kadayif are available in Germany at Turkish supermarkets. Fresh kadayif can be found in the refrigerated section under the name “Kadayif Zate.” Some stores also carry pre-toasted kadayif, which speeds up the preparation process. If you have a choice, opt for Medjool dates. This variety is particularly soft and juicy. The small, less sweet Neglet Nour dates are also a good choice.
Pistachio paste is recommended for the date filling. Since dates are naturally sweet, unsweetened pistachio paste is the perfect combination. Mix the pistachio paste with the toasted and finely chopped pasta strands. Stuff the dates with the mixture. This snack is a welcome change of pace and can also be served at buffets.
Dubai Chocolate—How Can You Tell It’s the Real Thing?
Would you like to try Dubai Chocolate without compromising on quality? The original Dubai Chocolate isn’t available in German supermarkets. It’s produced exclusively in Dubai and sold only there. The original treat is made by “Fix Dessert Chocolatier,” the company founded by Sarah Hamouda, the inventor of Dubai Chocolate. Kaufland is the only online retailer currently selling the original product in Germany. The 200-gram bar currently costs 41.90 euros.
Other criteria that define authentic Dubai chocolate:
- Appearance and Texture: The chocolate features strikingly large and thick squares. When you break it open, the creamy, green pistachio filling oozes out, and you can see the strands of dough.
- Ingredients: We’ve already discussed the ingredients in Dubai chocolate. As a general rule, the fewer ingredients a product contains, the higher its quality. In addition to cocoa, pistachio cream, kadayif, and sesame paste, the ingredient list may also include milk and sugar.
The following substances were detected in low-cost products from various manufacturers:
- Palm oil
- 3-MCPD and glycidyl fatty acid esters
- artificial dyes
- Mold Toxins (Aflatoxins)
- Cocoa Content: The quality of high-end chocolate is determined by its cocoa content. A high cocoa content indicates the highest quality chocolate. Dark chocolate is used for the original product. It has a higher cocoa content than milk chocolate and contains less sugar.
- Price: Authentic Dubai chocolate comes at a price. The ingredients aren’t cheap, and the chocolate is often made by hand. The most expensive chocolate isn’t always automatically the best product. Therefore, in addition to price, the other criteria mentioned should also be taken into account.
- Certification Labels: If you want a good, sustainable product, you should also look for any certification labels on the packaging. In addition to the organic certification label, UTZ, Fair Trade, and Rainforest Alliance also indicate quality and fair trade.
Buying Dubai Chocolate – Where to Find It
Original Dubai chocolate is available from the official chocolatiers in Dubai. If you’re visiting Dubai, it’s best to buy from reputable local vendors. The original “Can’t Get Knafeh of It” bar is available at various shopping malls, in candy stores, or at the duty-free shop at the airport.
The idea behind Dubai chocolate is closely linked to Turkish culinary traditions. In Turkish desserts, those with a sweet tooth will find both creamy pistachio paste and crispy strands of dough. Some chocolatiers in Turkey have also embraced this chocolate trend and are producing delicious versions of Dubai chocolate.
Dubai Chocolate – Interpreted in Different Ways
Anyone looking to treat themselves to an extraordinary taste experience or searching for a souvenir will find plenty of sweet temptations in Dubai inspired by the original Dubai chocolate concept.
- Ricolle: With its Dubai Chocolate Series, Ricolle offers an extraordinary taste experience. Thanks to their high-quality packaging, these chocolates also make excellent gifts.
- Taze: Taze uses Belgian milk chocolate as the base for its sweet creations. In addition to the classic pistachio and wafer strip varieties, you’ll also find Dubai chocolate with hazelnut or fruit fillings.
Other traditional sweets you should definitely try during your stay in Dubai:
- Baklava: You may be familiar with this pastry from a vacation in Turkey. This sweet treat consists of several layers of dough and is filled with nuts. Since it’s drizzled with honey syrup, it’s very sweet.
- Kunafa: Here, you’ll find the same thin strands of dough used in Dubai chocolate. Kunafa has a long tradition in Arab cuisine. The toasted strands of dough are filled with cheese and drizzled with syrup. Kunafa tastes best when served hot.
- Haresa: This dessert has a long tradition in the Arab world. There are both savory versions with meat and vegetables and a sweet version.
What can I do to avoid buying low-quality Dubai chocolate?
The offers are often tempting. Thanks to effective marketing strategies, it’s not uncommon for even lower-quality chocolates to find their way into people’s hands. If you don’t have the opportunity to buy chocolate directly from a reputable retailer in Dubai, you should pay extra attention to the following criteria:
Shopping at Reputable Retailers
Don’t buy Dubai chocolate from just any retailer. It’s important to choose a well-known and reputable manufacturer. If you’re not familiar with the manufacturer, check out the customer reviews. People who’ve had positive experiences will be happy to share them.
Keep an eye on the ingredient list
Good chocolate stands or falls on its ingredients. We’ve already discussed that Dubai chocolate uses only a few ingredients. Look for pure cocoa and the highest possible percentage of pistachios. Palm oil, flavorings, and other artificial additives have no place in high-quality Dubai chocolate.
Photo credit: Depositphotos.com – brebca (Ingrid Balabanova)
