The phenomenon of Dubai chocolate: why Ukrainians are massively interested in the delicacy
29 January 04:19
Today, it is almost impossible to find someone who has never heard of the so-called “Dubai chocolate”. Despite the fact that the first bar of the legendary chocolate with crispy pistachio filling was made back in 2021, it became most popular in 2024, when videos with reviews began to spread on social media and gain millions of views.
What is the composition of Dubai chocolate, what was the history of its creation, and how to make the famous dessert at home – read in the "Komersant Ukrainian" article
Who created Dubai chocolate: the history of the legendary chocolate bars
The original recipe for this legendary chocolate with a crispy pistachio filling was invented by 38-year-old confectioner Sarah Hamoud. In 2021, during her pregnancy, she decided to create a small brand, Fix Dessert Chocolatier, where she began making chocolate that suited her taste preferences. The newly created company consisted of only 2 people: Sarah and her husband, but later the staff was expanded to 10 people.
She is a British woman of Egyptian descent who was living in the emirate of Dubai at the time of the founding of her brand, so Sarah had a good understanding of oriental delicacies and local culture. She uses a wide variety of ingredients to make her signature chocolates, from kataifi dough and traditional kanaf to biscuits and even crispy cereals. When creating the brand, the confectioner decided not just to make delicious chocolate, but to make a product that would be a “fantastic experience” for customers.
The confectioner achieved real success after launching a chocolate bar called “Can’t Get Knafeh of It,” which translates to “impossible to tear yourself away from it.” In 2024, reviews from food bloggers and ASMR bloggers began to appear on the TikTok social network, breaking and tasting the chocolate bar on camera. Thanks to the unusual combination of flavors and textures used in the manufacture of this chocolate, it quickly went viral, and videos with reviews began to gain millions of views.
What is Dubai chocolate and what makes it unique?
Dubai chocolate is the name of a chocolate bar filled with filamentous kataifi dough, pistachio paste, and tahini sesame paste. The crispy structure of this dessert is achieved by frying the crushed kataifi dough until golden brown, while the pistachio and sesame paste add a viscous texture to this dessert.
Real “Dubai chocolate” is made by hand, so it is sold in limited quantities – only 500 chocolate bars per day. The cost of one chocolate bar in Dubai is $20 for a 200 gram bar, while in Ukraine the cost of one bar of such chocolate reaches 1500 UAH. However, you can buy an original chocolate bar only with the help of the local delivery service Deliveroo, where its sales start every day at 17:00, and the entire batch is sold out within a few minutes.
Each chocolate bar can be considered unique, as each of them is hand-painted with a colorful pattern. In addition, chocolate bars from the Fix Dessert Chocolatier brand attract attention with original names that are invented by the owner’s husband.
How to make “Dubai chocolate” at home?
Ingredients:
- Milk or dark chocolate – 450 g
- Butter – 45 g
- Kataifi dough – 150 g
- Tahini – 1 tbsp. spoon
- Pistachio paste – 60 g
Preparation:
- Chop the chocolate into small pieces and melt half of the chocolate in a water bath or microwave.
- Spread a thin layer of melted chocolate evenly over the bottom and walls of the prepared silicone mold. Invert the silicone mold for a few minutes to get rid of the excess and place the chocolate mold in the refrigerator.
- 3. Finely chop the kataifi dough and fry it in butter until golden brown.
- Pour the kataifi dough into a deep bowl, add the tahini and pistachio paste, and mix.
- After the first layer of chocolate has completely hardened, put the filling on it, a few millimeters short of the edges of the mold.
- Melt the second part of the chocolate, cover the pistachio mixture with it and gently smooth it out.
Put the finished bars in the refrigerator for about 1 hour until they are completely hardened
Author: Olya Yushko
