The original Dubai chocolate bar went viral in 2023, when content creator Maria Vehera posted a TikTok video of her trying the luxury dessert.
See social media taste tests of Trader Joe’s Dubai chocolate bars
Trader Joe’s debuts its own take on viral Dubai chocolate bars for just $3.99.
Dubai chocolate bars, known for their hard-shell chocolate exterior and creamy, nutty green center, have taken over social media for months. In addition to countless “dupes,” or replicas, of the viral chocolate, some brands have released their own products that pull inspiration from the dessert.
Shake Shack released a Dubai Chocolate Pistachio Shake, Costco stocked After’s Dubai Chocolate Ice Cream Bars and Starbucks has promoted a make-it-your own Dubai chocolate beverage.
Notable brands that have released their own Dubai chocolate bars include Trader Joe’s and Lindt, the latter of which launched its Dubai Style Chocolate Bar in major retailers, including Walmart, Target, Walgreens and Kroger, on Monday, July 7.
Here’s a look at some of the products floating around the Dubai chocolate flavor atmosphere.
Shake Shack
In June, Shake Shack released its Dubai Chocolate Pistachio Shake across the U.S. The shake is made with pistachio frozen custard, toasted kataifi (shredded phyllo), a dark chocolate shell and topped with chopped pistachios and kataifi. The shakes start at $9.49.
A Shake Shack spokesperson told USA TODAY that the shakes will be available at participating locations through August, though due to availability and ingredients, each location will sell a limited amount of shakes per day.
Costco
After Hours Ice Cream, based in California, released a Dubai chocolate ice cream bar earlier this summer. However, as of July 10, the ice cream bars did not appear on the Costco website.
Neither Costco nor After Hours immediately responded when contacted by USA TODAY on July 10.
Crave Cookies
Crave Cookies has released two Dubai chocolate-inspired items, a cookie and strawberry cup.
According to the Crave Cookies website, the cookie is made with chocolate dough and stuffed with kunafa pistachio filling and layered with milk and white chocolate icing and crispy, toasted kataifi. The cookie is available at participating locations through Thursday, July 10.
The Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Cup is made with house-made pistachio cream, milk chocolate ganache, crushed pistachios, strawberries and topped with shredded kataifi and crushed chocolate chip cookies, per the Crave Cookies website.
Starbucks
Starbucks hasn’t officially released a Dubai chocolate drink, but the chain crafted up a “secret” menu item it feels fits the taste and aesthetic.
Starbucks recommends the following order to sip on a Dubai chocolate-inspired drink:
- Grande Iced Matcha Latte
- 2 pumps of pistachio sauce
- Chocolate cream cold foam
What is the viral Dubai chocolate bar?
The original Dubai chocolate bar is made by FIX Dessert Chocolatier in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is called “Can’t Get Knafeh Of It.” A six-pack of bars costs $120 on the FIX Dessert Chocolatier website, making one bar $20.
The chocolate bar was released in 2022 when FIX Dessert Chocolatier Founder Sarah Hamouda wished to satisfy her pregnancy cravings for knafeh (a Middle Eastern dessert made with pastry dough, sweet cheese and syrup) and pistachio, BBC reported.
“Can’t Get Knafeh Of It” first went viral in 2023, when content creator Maria Vehera posted a TikTok of her trying the luxury chocolate bar. As of July 10, the video has more than 131 million views.
Countless brands have made their own versions, or “dupes” of the viral chocolate bar, including Florida-based Bolci ($19 for one bar) and New York City-based The Nuts Factory ($50 for two bars) and countless homemade recipes on Etsy.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
