Dubai is now famous for many things: tall buildings, luxury malls… and chocolate! One special chocolate bar from Dubai is now popular around the world. This is the story of how it started—and why everyone wants a bite.
In December 2024, a woman visited a Christmas market in Munich, Germany. She was looking for her favorite holiday cookies. But she noticed something new: a long line of people waiting to buy a chocolate bar from Dubai! It was her first time seeing it. But this chocolate had already become very famous.
A Chocolate Loved Around the World
This chocolate bar is full of pistachio cream, tahini (a sesame paste), and crunchy pieces of knafeh (a sweet Middle Eastern pastry). It was made in 2022 by Sarah Hamouda, a woman from Dubai who wanted to make something special to help with her pregnancy cravings.
She started a brand called FIX Dessert Chocolatier, and she named the chocolate:
“Can’t Get Knafeh Of It.”
In 2023, a TikTok influencer named Maria posted a video of herself eating the bar. The video became viral, with over 125 million views! People around the world wanted to try it. Very quickly, it became known as “Dubai chocolate.”
In Stores and Online
Soon, the chocolate was everywhere—from online shops in the UAE to stores in London, Istanbul, and Mumbai. But it was still hard to find because demand was so high. Some shops even had to limit how much people could buy. People were even caught trying to smuggle (hide and take) the chocolate!
Why Is It So Special?
Experts say this chocolate is different because:
- It’s rich in flavor
- It uses Middle Eastern ingredients
- It looks good in videos—especially when it breaks and the green pistachio cream flows out
- It connects to tradition and family stories
One food expert said:
“It’s not just tasty—it brings back memories and feelings.”
A Family Connection
Sarah Hamouda made this chocolate during her pregnancy. Her business partner, Nabil Chehab, also has a family story. His wife’s great-grandfather sold knafeh in Beirut in 1872! Today, his company Maison Samadi in London also sells a version of the Dubai chocolate bar.
Dubai’s Sweet Success
The chocolate bar helped Dubai become more famous in the world of sweets. Tourists now visit dessert shops in Dubai to try the real thing. Some people even travel just to taste it!
People say this bar is “the perfect mix of taste, texture, and memory.”
It was made with love, tradition, and new ideas.
As one expert said:
“It was born to be a champion.”
Source: bbc.com
Vocabulary for the Article
Chocolate bar – a sweet food made from cocoa, usually in a long piece
Example: She bought a chocolate bar from Dubai.
Famous – known by many people
Example: The chocolate became famous on TikTok.
Pistachio – a small green nut
Example: The bar is filled with pistachio cream.
Tahini – a thick sauce made from sesame seeds
Example: The chocolate has tahini inside.
Pastry – a sweet baked food
Example: Knafeh is a type of Middle Eastern pastry.
Craving – a strong desire to eat something
Example: Sarah made the chocolate during her pregnancy cravings.
Viral – seen by many people very quickly online
Example: The TikTok video went viral.
Limit – to control how much someone can have
Example: Stores had to limit how many bars people could buy.
Smuggle – to secretly take something somewhere
Example: Some people tried to smuggle chocolate bars.
Texture – how something feels when you touch or eat it
Example: The chocolate has a soft and crunchy texture.
Tradition – a way of doing things passed from family to family
Example: The chocolate includes Middle Eastern traditions.
Pregnancy – the time when a woman is going to have a baby
Example: Sarah created the chocolate during her pregnancy.
Brand – the name of a product made by a company
Example: The chocolate’s brand is FIX Dessert Chocolatier.
Dessert – sweet food usually eaten after a meal
Example: Chocolate is a popular dessert.
Champion – the best in a competition or area
Example: People say the chocolate was born to be a champion.
Influencer – a person who has many followers online and can affect what people buy
Example: An influencer made a video about the chocolate.
Demand – how many people want to buy something
Example: The chocolate became so popular, the demand was very high.
Business partner – a person who works with someone in a company
Example: Sarah started the company with a business partner.
Recipe – instructions for how to make food
Example: The chocolate has a secret recipe.
Tourist – a person who travels to another place for fun
Example: Tourists come to Dubai to try the chocolate.