Food trends have been travelling at breakneck speed for some years now thanks to the popularisation of TikTok and its knack for algorithmically curating the latest obsessions.
From the lockdown phenomenon of Dalgona whipped coffee to less appetizing trends like Chamoy pickle kits, social media has showcased it all.
One of the most recent viral phenomena, however, has been a lot more exclusive and reserved only to a lucky few, as it was, until recently, only available in one specific shop in Dubai.
The now-widely known as “Dubai chocolate bar” is a pistachio lover’s dream come true: the finest, creamiest milk chocolate filled with pistachio cream mixed with knafeh (or kunafa), a crispy shredded phyllo pastry.
As soon as I discovered this delicacy, I knew I had to try it, but despite my extensive research, I soon realised I had to take a trip to the UAE if I wanted to even get close to tasting it.
Just a couple of days later, the Expedia Group invited me on a trip to Abu Dhabi to uncover its travel trends report for 2025, with one of the main motivations for travellers next year being sourcing goods from lands far away.
The travel giant revealed: “TikTok has inspired travellers to take trips in search of craveable (and share-worthy) specialty goods.
“Whether it’s a viral chocolate bar from Dubai, butter from France, skincare products from Korea or Japanese sweets, travellers are making extra space in their carry-ons for unique treasures, even creating entire trips around getting the goods.
“When going on holiday, 60 percent of Brits prioritise visiting a supermarket to buy local goods and delicacies, with sweet treats (43 percent) and condiments and spices (20 percent) topping the shopping list.
“Coffee tours in Costa Rica, tea tastings in China and matcha experiences in Japan are some of the most popular Goods Getaway experiences bookable on Expedia.”
Lo and behold, a mere month later I was on a plane to the capital of the United Arab Emirates to experience this and the other eight trends for myself.
And after racing through the stunning Yas Mall to track down this sought-after treat, I finally got my hands on one.
The experience was sublime. Milk chocolate of the highest quality was a mere casing for a flavour and texture explosion that was worth the entire trip alone.
Needless to say, later that day I went back to my hotel with a yearly supply of these delightful treats – both for myself and for gifting to my nearest and dearest.
Were these world-renowned treats the nearly £70 I spent on them? Absolutely. Would I go back and spend the same on them again? Of course, in fact, I’d probably splurge even more.