Predicting the slow-down of Dubai Chocolate

It’s trend season, the time to make predictions and think about what’s in and out. I spoke with journalist Adrienne Mitchel about Dubai Chocolate for the website Savor Nation. Read the article here.

We talked about how trends move through stages on their way to mainstream adoption. Dubai Chocolate has already gone mass — the big chocolate bar makers and food companies now have versions of the flavor in the market. You probably noticed Dubai Chocolate this past holiday season. Will it be around next year? Probably not in the same quantity.

With a flavor trend like this — rich, decadent, complex — a little can go a long way. It’s also expensive to produce and relies on pistachios, which are experiencing a shortage at the moment due to the explosion of this popular trend.

However, as delicious and indulgent as it may be, Dubai Chocolate is bound to be replaced by something new — the novelty factor is what places like Starbucks and chocolate shops rely on to drive business. It will be around for a while and may become a new regular flavor for chocolate companies, but it will lose its appeal to treat lovers, who are always in pursuit of the next new bite.