For months social media feeds have been flooded with photos and videos of the Dubai Chocolate bar.
The filled chocolate treat features pistachio cream and Kadayif pastry and sparked a frenzy after influencer Maria Vehera shared a clip of her trying one from FIX Dessert Chocolatier.
A few months later, just about every confectionery brand out there had created its own version of the sweet treat, including Lindt and Lidl.
Demand for the product was so high that limits had to be set for the amount of bars you could buy at one time and the chocolate bar was even blamed for a worldwide pistachio shortage in April.
Those who roll their eyes every time they see another Dubai chocolate review cropping up on their TikTok FYP might want to brace themselves though, as there’s a brand new chocolate craze that’s about to be absolutely everywhere, known as Angel Hair chocolate.
One Angel Hair chocolate bar has already hit the mainstream, with Noesis Angel Hair (70g) being sold in Tesco for £5, or £4.50 with a Clubcard.
It’s made with ruby and white chocolate, and like the Dubai bar features a pistachio cream filling. However, instead of Kadayif pastry, it’s filled with ‘cotton candy’.
Food futurologist, Dr Morgaine Gaye, told Metro that this cotton candy is actually what’s known as Pashmak, and it’s this ingredient specifically that’s set to be the next big thing.
‘There’s going to be a rise in Pashmak – it’s being touted as a challenger for the pistachio trend,’ she said.
‘Pashmak is an Iranian pulled sugar that’s reminiscent of candy floss, it’s like hair fibres, it’s very straight.
‘It’s similar to candy floss, but it’s not the same thing.’
So far, those who’ve tried it have had mixed reactions to the sugary filling, with some saying it’s ‘beautiful’, but a few weren’t keen on the unique texture.
Helena Smith was a fan, posting on the Food Finds UK Official Facebook group: ‘I must say I thought it tasted really nice. I don’t normally give in to the hype, but so glad I did with this one.’
And Dee Aldrich also liked it, sharing she found it to be ‘well worth the money’.
However, Gary Hodgson, wrote of the Noesis chocolate: ‘It’s very expensive when you see the bar is actually tiny. It tastes nice but I found the texture of the candy floss strange in a chocolate bar, like eating loft insulation.’
Beverly Waldron agreed, replying: ‘I got one from Home Bargains, I’m not going to lie, it was beautiful chocolate, but tasted like I was licking a carpet.’
‘Very strange texture,’ commented Jacqueline Reid, as Eden Lewis claimed it was ‘wayyyy too sweet’.
Others admitted they ‘weren’t sure’ about it, or were ‘intrigued’ but hadn’t tried it yet.
But whether or not you’re tempted by Angel Hair, one thing’s certain – you can expect to see more of it over the coming months, according to Morgaine.
The expert believes you’ll see it popping up inside of chocolate and cakes, as well as being used on other treats like doughnuts as a ‘decorative’ topping.
She adds that trends like this one and the pistachio one can go on and on and don’t tend to die down until they are ‘absolutely everywhere’.
‘It often seems like something is everywhere because it’s all over social media, but that doesn’t mean it has actually fully infiltrated the mainstream.
‘Until every large brand is selling chocolate or cakes with this filling, and people who aren’t on social media or aren’t in London are aware of it and are being inundated by it, then it’s not really everywhere.’
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