I Tried The Viral Starbucks Dubai Chocolate Bar Matcha Latte—These Are My Unfiltered Thoughts
Just last year, the Dubai Chocolate Bar exploded onto the scene as the internet's latest obsession. It filled our FYP pages and infiltrated our candy shops. And while the craze has died down (slightly), Starbucks loyalists are reigniting the flame with a custom matcha latte inspired by the treat.
The now-viral drink originated on social media with content creators customizing the order themselves at the drive-thru or in the Starbucks app. And while it's not available on the official menu, it's easy enough to request the customization...so we did.
Having tried the Dubai chocolate bar myself—flown in directly from the original bakery, Fix Dessert Chocolatier—at the Emirates Suite at the US Open in September, I was eager to taste it in drink form. The actual chocolate is stuffed with filling made with pistachio and knafeh, which is a traditional Middle Eastern treat made from sweet and buttery phyllo pastry strands, while the Starbucks version is a Grande Iced Matcha Latte with two pumps of pistachio sauce, topped with chocolate cold foam.
Though I love a pistachio latte and would file the Dubai chocolate bar under my personal "favorite things" list (seriously), I placed my order in the Starbucks app with low expectations. Let me explain. You see, the crunchy texture of the knafeh filling combined with smooth pistachio cream and rich chocolate is what really makes the Dubai chocolate bar the Dubai chocolate bar. I'm also not typically a huge fan of chocolate flavoring—I want straight up chocolate or nothing at all—so I was unsure how I would feel about the cold foam. I ordered a backup black cold brew just in case.
Boy, was I wrong—or at least about half wrong. I was so pleasantly surprised by the sweet and smooth matcha-pistachio combo that I took such an enthusiastic second sip, I spilled my beverage all down the front of my shirt (RIP). The chocolate cold foam added a creamy finish that wasn't overpowering, but rather, added real depth to the overall flavor profile. I even abandoned my backup coffee and decided to sip the rest of the matcha instead.
While, admittedly, I was blown away by how much I did enjoy the Starbucks Dubai Chocolate Matcha, I stand by what I said in my original assumption. It's reminiscent of the candy bar, thanks to the chocolate and pistachio flavors, but the heart and soul of the real deal lies in the knafeh filling—which you just can't recreate in drink form. I'll absolutely be ordering it again, though.
You Might Also Like
