How you too can benefit from the viral Dubai chocolate trend

The trend began with a chunky chocolate bar by Fix Chocolate, filled with gooey pistachio paste and crispy toasted knafeh pastry. Social media exploded with videos of people breaking open the bar, delighting as the oozy filling spills out. Initially exclusive to Dubai, it quickly became known as the "Dubai bar" or "Dubai chocolate". Demand surged quickly, prompting chocolatiers and confectioners worldwide to craft their own takes on the Dubai bar.

The Dubai bar caters to the growing consumer appetite for indulgent, multi-sensory experiences. The combination of thick chocolate, creamy pistachio cream and crispy knafeh provides a unique contrast of textures that delights both the palate and the eyes. According to Taste Tomorrow research, 72% of consumers actively seek such foods with diverse textures, making this trend irresistible to experience-hungry customers.

The Dubai chocolate has yet to reach its peak, meaning it’s the perfect time for your bakery, patisserie, or chocolate shop to jump on board. Want to infuse some Dubai-style decadence into your offerings? Here’s where you can start:

• Viennoiseries: The flakiness of puff pastry offers another textural layer to the gooey and crispy pistachio and knafeh.

• Cookies and pastries: Whether it's shortbread or canelés, everything that’s suitable to stuff with a pistachio and knafeh center is perfect for a Dubai make-over.

• Chocolates and bonbons: Experiment with thick chocolate shells filled with pistachio ganache and crispy elements like kataifi for that sought-after crunch-and-ooze effect.

• Sweet breads: babka, brioche or challah can be swirled with pistachio paste, knafeh and chocolate chunks.

• Breakfast & brunch specials: waffles, pancakes, and French toast with pistachio knafeh toppings offer an indulgent breakfast option.

Want to lead the trend instead of following it? Here are 4 tips if you want to create the next Dubai bar yourself: 

1. Cater to the experience: make sure your treat isn’t just tasty, but make it memorable by offering an extraordinary sensory eating experience. 

2. Experiment with luxurious ingredients: high-end products like pistachio, saffron, champagne or honeycomb instantly add sophistication and indulgence.

3. Play with presentation: the Dubai chocolate hype was fueled by the visual appeal of the clashing textures. Try and replicate that by experimenting with the presentation.

4. Embrace fusion flavors: Don’t shy away from combining familiar treats with more exotic flavors. Think of matcha, yuzu and sesame from Japan or kona coffee, macadamia nuts and hibiscus from Hawaii. 

Melty-centered snack cakes, super flaky pastries or stretchy mochi snacks, texture has emerged as the most desirable element to elevate the consumer experience from mundane to extraordinary. Explore the latest trends in texture and taste on TasteTomorrow.com to learn how to craft indulgent, multi-sensory treats that will wow your customers.