Dubai Chocolate – Worth the hype?

I will be the first to admit I don’t keep up with TikTok trends or the latest crazes, so I’m just now getting around to trying Dubai chocolate.

💡 What is Dubai chocolate?
Dubai chocolate rose to fame on TikTok, where videos showed oversized chocolate bars stuffed with pistachios, Nutella, and other fillings. The real treats are made in Dubai by boutique chocolatiers and are known for being extra rich and indulgent. Since then, candy shops and even big brands have started making their own versions, fueling the craze.

I enlisted my trusty ride-or-die, aka my 12-year-old grandson, to taste test this chocolatey delight we kept hearing about. Well, finding Dubai chocolate in our rural community proved a little more challenging than expected…

I originally wanted to try chocolate from a cottage candy business that had its own special way of replicating chocolate from Dubai. What I actually ended up with was a mass-produced Lindt chocolate bar from Walmart. At $15 a bar, I was skeptical, but curiosity won out. The chocolate was creamy and crunchy, but not quite what I expected. I thought it would have more of that signature pistachio flavor.

Just when I was about to write Dubai chocolate off as overhyped, a Facebook post caught my eye. An almost-local bagel shop, The Bagel Lady, was selling chocolate bagels made with Dubai chocolate. The picture made them look irresistible. My loyal partner in tasting and I decided we had to give it a try.

Getting there, however, was a quest of its own. The highway has been under construction for at least five years, with endless concrete barriers and semi-trucks closing in from both sides. When the wind is whipping those trailers around, it feels less like a trip to a bagel shop and more like an obstacle course!

We arrived safely, full of enthusiasm for our taste test. The shop itself was cozy and charming, with plenty of breakfast, lunch, and dessert options. My grandson and I quickly agreed to split a savory lunch bagel and, of course, the Dubai chocolate bagel.

The chocolate bagel did not disappoint. It was filled with pistachio cream and drizzled in chocolate. Since they were out of chocolate chip bagels, ours came on a regular one — and honestly, it worked perfectly. With all the richness from the toppings, we didn’t miss the chocolate chip base at all.

In the end, while both the Lindt bar and the Dubai chocolate bagel were tasty, I still feel Dubai chocolate might be a little overrated. Then again, I’ve always been partial to the dark chocolate-covered peanuts from Dollar General. Maybe my palate just needs refining!

On a side note, I enjoyed The Bagel Lady so much that I’ve picked it for our next book club luncheon. If you’re ever in the area, you should definitely give it a try.

With love and glitter, Valerie