The Dubai chocolate trend: Why its taking over the world

Angel hair chocolate

Heaven sent There’s a new chocolate trend winging its way to the UK – and, according to TikTokers, it tastes heavenly! Angel hair chocolate is the internet sensation which has knocked Dubai chocolate off its throne, leaving cacao lovers clamouring to get their hands on it. This viral craze consists of pistachio cream, Pişmaniye - Turkish cotton candy - and the occasional freeze-dried fruit, encased in milk, dark or pink chocolate. Not only does it look amazing, it also tastes amazing too and, with ‘texture’ proving a major trend in the confectionery world right now, this scrummy chocolate ticks all the boxes.  As with all food trends, it’s open to adaptation and makers are having lots of fun putting their own twist on it by introducing different colours to both the outer and inner layers.  It’s even made its way into the frozen category, with ice cream and gelato layered up with chocolate, pistachio and cotton candy.  What exactly is ‘angel hair’? Pişmaniye (angel hair) is the key ingredient that gives the chocolate its name. It's a traditional Turkish sweet made from flour and sugar, spun into fine, hair-like strands, resembling cotton candy or candy floss.   The delicate, airy strands of cotton candy have an unusual, fluffy texture and create a light, melt-in-your-mouth sensation, which contrasts beautifully with the creamy pistachio filling and the smooth chocolate.  Chocolate choices High-quality chocolate will garner the best results for your angel hair creations. Belcolade Cacao Trace white chocolate (30%) is a great option, or, for vegan customers, Belcolade Cacao Trace vegan white couverture.   Use Food Colours natural liquid food colours – available in pink, yellow, red, orange, blue, green and black – to transform the chocolate to your chosen colour.  Perfect layers Pişmaniye is available to buy from specialist Turkish retailers. Once your base layer of chocolate has set in the mould, gently spread the Pişmaniye over the top, then spoon the pistachio cream over the cotton candy layer (Irca, Rubicone and Barbara Luijckx all produce brilliant pistachio creams). Return the mould to the freezer for another 10 minutes. Finally, top with chocolate, making sure it covers the filling and seals the mould. Top tip It’s imperative to keep your hands dry when handling Turkish cotton candy because moisture will cause it to dissolve.