BDSI group highlights Dubai Chocolate as being a general label rather than origin status
ISM Middle East in Dubai. Pic: Neill Barston
The German confectionery trade body, the BDSI has moved to clarify the fact that products labelled as “Dubai Chocolate” as has been seen on social media including Tik Tok, are not a reference to its direct origin, writes Neill Barston.
According to the key European organisation, consumers should be aware that items that are given such descriptions are a generic term for specific recipes of chocolate filling that have become popular in the region.
As the BDSI noted, “Dubai chocolate” is usually a milk chocolate with a characteristic filling of kadayif dough threads (“angel hair”) and pistachio cream.
Consequently, a large number of influencers are part of the movement and make their own “Dubai chocolate”, so that “Dubai chocolate” has not only arrived in America and Europe, but has also become a worldwide viral hit via TikTok.
Dr. Carsten Bernoth, General Manager of the Confectionery Association: “Dubai chocolate is to be regarded as a typical “generic name” under food law: The name refers to a geographically defined area (Emirate of Dubai), but consumers associate it with information about the nature of the product, in particular the composition of the predominantly non-local ingredients. Examples of generic names for food products are “Vienna sausages” or “Pils”.
As the trade body noted, “Dubai chocolate” may be produced not only in Dubai, but anywhere in the world, including by German chocolatiers or private chocolate fans.
Indeed, as Confectionery Production has previously reported from Dubai at ISM Middle East, there are in fact a growing number of chocolate businesses operating in the region. While many of the ingredients are sourced from outside of the UAE, there is a notable movement emerging towards localised production of product ranges, though manufacturing of chocolate in particular remains challenging within such environmental conditions.
However, as we have previously discussed with the organisers of ISM, Koelnmesse, there is a definite increase in demand for chocolate and wider confectionery ranges. This to a large degree is a question of following European and American trends for premium ranges, but also notably connected to the demographics of the region – it has an especially young population that has taken to sweets, candy and chocolate, that has seen its local market grow markedly in recent years.
