Dubai chocolate conquers Kassel: sweet hype or short-lived trend?

Dubai chocolate conquers Kassel: sweet hype or short-lived trend?

Dubai chocolate has taken Kassel by storm – and not just in terms of taste! Originally from the United Arab Emirates, this luxurious treat is causing a stir in the chocolate world. While temperatures in Dubai often rise above 30 degrees, Kassel chocolatiers like Amanda Dahl have to keep the chocolate below 30 degrees to preserve its exquisite color. The combination of milk chocolate, pistachio cream and crunchy angel hair captivates chocolate lovers.

In the “Schmunzelgeist” chocolate factory on Gilsastraße, around 50 bars of this sought-after chocolate are produced every week. The price for a 100 gram bar is 13 euros. “The combination is really interesting because the angel hair gives the chocolate a crunchy consistency,” enthuses Dahl, who sources her pistachios from Sicily. But not all chocolatiers are enthusiastic about this trend. Thomas Ernst from the “Pralinenwerkstatt” sees the rising prices for pistachios and cocoa as a major challenge and has no plans to create his own version of Dubai chocolate.

Hype or long-running favorite?

Demand for Dubai chocolate is also high in smaller shops such as the “House of Sweets” on Obere Königsstrasse. A 220 gram bar there costs 25 euros and is produced directly in Dubai. Whether this hype will last or is just a short-term phenomenon remains to be seen. More and more retailers in Kassel are offering the chocolate, and the shelves are often quickly empty.

The roots of Dubai chocolate date back to 2021, when British-Egyptian entrepreneur Sarah Hamouda founded her company “Fix Dessert Chocolatier”. However, the viral hype only began in late 2023, when influencer Maria Vehera posted an enthusiastic video about the chocolate on TikTok, which received over 98 million views. Now chocolate lovers worldwide want to enjoy this special creation, while big brands like Lindt are also jumping on the bandwagon.