Chocolate lovers across Ireland are experiencing a new wave of excitement with the introduction of Dubai-style chocolate bars, a trend that has swept through supermarkets in recent weeks. These bars fuse the traditional flavors of Middle Eastern desserts with the beloved sweetness of chocolate, appealing to the adventurous palate. With multiple brands vying for attention, the competition among retailers—especially Lidl, Aldi, Sugar Plum Sweetery, and Lindt—has created an engaging chocolate battlefield.
Among the frontrunners, Lidl has launched its own version of the Dubai chocolate bar, known as the J.D. Gross Dubai-Style Chocolate. Priced at an affordable €4.99 and coming in a 122-gram portion, it stands out as the cheapest option available in Irish supermarkets. With its creamy pistachio filling and a luxurious chocolate coating, consumers have described it as "indulgently exotic." A spokesperson for Lidl remarked, "This luxurious treat, known for its rich, velvety texture and unique pistachio flavours, is making waves for being both indulgent and exotic. Why travel thousands of miles when you can experience the luxury of Dubai right from your local Lidl store?" This sentiment seems to resonate, as chocolate enthusiasts have been flooding stores to get their hands on these coveted bars.
At the same price point, Aldi has also entered the fray with its interpretation of the Dubai chocolate bar, which features a brownie base topped with a crunchy pistachio mixture. The response has been mixed; while some find it an enjoyable twist, others feel that the lack of sweetness makes it less appealing. One taste tester mentioned, "It’s definitely not your standard Dubai chocolate bar, but it’s a tasty and fun spin on it." Aldi's offering might not capture the classic essence of a Dubai-style bar completely, but it does provide a different texture and experience for consumers looking to try something new.
In stark contrast, the Sugar Plum Sweetery, a small local shop in Westmeath, is gaining a reputation for producing one of the best Dubai chocolate bars. Priced at €9.95, it incorporates all three crucial elements of a traditional bar: pistachio, kataifi pastry, and tahini. Customer testimonials highlight the exceptional quality and the expertly balanced flavors. One repeat customer confessed, "Each bar I’ve gotten has been excellent quality, with the perfect flavor. The high quality of the chocolate itself is something that stands out to me. I definitely think it’s worth buying it at least once— even to share.”
Meanwhile, Lindt has recently announced the return of their Dubai-style chocolate bars, which originally made a splash last December with limited availability. Now, they're not only back but expanded with new variations, including a Dubai Style Chocolate Praline Box and a smaller 40-gram version of the original chocolate bar. Stefane Bruderer, a master chocolatier at Lindt, expressed the brand's eagerness to meet consumer demand, stating, "We know how much our consumers enjoyed this chocolate bar when we first launched and how much demand there was, so it's an honour to make it more widely available this time around." Their new offerings are already available at major retailers, driving eager customers to seek them out.
As the Dubai chocolate bar trend continues to flourish, retailers are adapting to fulfill the insatiable demand. Lindt’s entry gained notable enthusiasm, evidenced by fans who reportedly traveled over 4,000 miles to secure their bars when they launched in Germany. Their passion illustrates the growing importance of social media platforms in energizing cravings for modern chocolate creations.
The current landscape for Dubai-style chocolate bars showcases the competitive nature between supermarkets and specialty shops. While brands like Lidl and Aldi are accessible and affordable, local artisans like Sugar Plum Sweetery emphasize quality and traditional crafting techniques. As for Lindt, they have transformed an already popular product into a highly desired treat, once again igniting the sweet tooth in chocolate lovers everywhere.
The holiday season may often boost the demand for chocolate treats, and with Easter just around the corner, shoppers are eager to indulge. With limited stock available, brands have been swift to limit the quantity produced—Lidl notably releasing only 6,000 bars for consumers. This makes securing a beloved Dubai chocolate bar a little more exhilarating for customers, who cannot get enough of these decadent treats.
