B2 – Upper Intermediate
The Dubai Chocolate craze began as a local treat from Fix Dessert Chocolatier in 2022 and quickly gained international fame, thanks to its rich pistachio-filled flavor and viral exposure on TikTok and Instagram.
Its limited availability only fueled demand, turning it into a status symbol. Major brands like Trader Joe’s, Costco, and Crumbl soon launched their own versions, showing how a regional dessert can influence global food trends and retail strategies.
Watch the video and be able to answer the questions below.
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “homegrown” mean? “We’re a small homegrown brand. We had just enough chocolate just to serve the community.” Use the word in a sentence and give a synonym.
- What does “to shoot at the gut“? “We’re kind of shooting at the gut here and hoping that this works.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
- What is “price point“? “The price point of the Kataifi and shipping that from another country to the US and with it being so nationally recognized and utilized right now, it was hard to source because we have so many stores across the nation.” Make a sentence using the term.
Discussion Questions:
- Share your thoughts on the global popularity of this product.
- Do you think social media has too much influence over what becomes popular in the food industry? Share your thoughts.
- Should major retailers create their own versions of viral products like Dubai Chocolate, or is that unfair to the original creators? What is your opinion?
- Would you buy a product just because it went viral online, even if it’s expensive or hard to find? Why or why not?
- What factors do you think contributed most to the global success of Dubai Chocolate—its flavor, its origin, or its social media presence?
- Talk about a global food trend that has become famous in your country and a local dish from your nation that won over the world.