I’m often asked what is a chocolate safari?

Well first of all there are two different types of safari one is in origin and the other is an urban city store and maker tour.

A chocolate safari to origin is an expert escorted tour that takes people to see where chocolate comes from and how it is made and how to taste it to fully appreciate its complexity.

It is a unique culinary and educational experience that allows people to learn about the history and production of chocolate, as well as to taste some of the world's finest chocolate.

Dubai was the setting for our next international urban Chocolate Safari.

Now, when you think of Dubai you probably think of opulence, scorching heat and ultra modern buildings and hotels;

you may not necessarily think of premium chocolate…so be prepared to be amazed!

Nestled between Europe and Asia, Dubai was and still is at the centre of the historic spice trade.

Traders and sailors have travelled the seas from China to the Mediterranean bringing back the rarest spices and ingredients.

Today, Dubai is a melting pot of cultures, cuisines and people with top chefs from all over the world all of which contributes to the flavours of the Emirates.

I want to just walk you through the highlights of this incredible safari in a wonderful multicultural city…

We started the adventure back at the client’s hotel to cover the essentials:

• Chocolate history

• Sensory chocolate tasting

• Chocolate bean to bar presentation

We then took to the streets of Dubai using a combination of Abras Careem taxi and public transport

One of the most popular chocolate shops in the Dubai mall is Patchi.  a Lebanese chocolate company that has been around for over 60 years.

They offer a wide variety of chocolates, including pralines, truffles, gift baskets and bars. Their chocolates are beautifully presented.

Now, like most major cities around the world there are the usual chocolate shops and large retailers who carry some international brands that are helpful to look at so we started our discovery with a tour of some of Dubai’s best malls before venturing a little further where we found a real pearl in Mirzam’s new café and chocolate factory.

Mirzam, the first bean-to-bar maker in Dubai, launched in September 2016 and has already received many international awards.

The production process, which is designed to be customer facing, sits behind plexiglass so you can experience each stage of the chocolate making: from the bean store and roasting room to hand wrapping each bar.

Their single origin cocoa beans have been chosen for the range of flavours you experience when tasting and rich heritage, located along the maritime Spice Route.

Using granite wheels, the roasted beans are ground for several days depending on the recipe, in a process which slowly decreases the molecule size to create incredibly smooth chocolate. The single origin collection is crafted from beans originating from Vietnam, Indonesia, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea and India.

Mirzam not only produces fantastic chocolate but it also pays the farmers they work with 6-7 times the world cacao commodity price for their crops; this move allows them to work with small and specialised providers and still pay them a fair price. This focus on quality really shines through the whole process.

You can you buy bars, cocoa powder, truffles, or just sit and have a cake or a cup of its gourmet hot chocolate.

They also make a great chocolate gelato.

But, as somewhat of a purist, I was there for chocolate.

We sampled a plethora of incredible flavours but the highlight of the tasting, for me, was the bar I tried first was a Filled Date & Fennel 70g Ghana 62% bar; flavoured dark chocolate from Ghana with sweet dates blended with ground fennel creating a rich sweet paste. This paste was suspended in the middle of Mirzam’s craft 62% bar to a create a sweet, slightly sticky treat. The aromatic notes from the fresh fennel create the perfect contrast to the dates.

I could spend an age telling you all the secrets of this Aladdin’s Cave…but you’ll just have to experience it for your self.

We then headed to the Old Souk a traditional market The Spice Souk is located in Deira, in eastern Dubai, and is adjacent to the Dubai Gold Souk, Baniyas Street 

This place is amazing with all the colourful spices piled high, fresh dates, teas and lots of cleansing and healing crystals.The smells, of blossoms spices and herbs sometime make your eyes water, sights & sounds at the Deira Gold & Spice Souk are not to be missed.

Yes ...you will encounter vendors hassling you along the way but most are good humoured & if you say a firm 'NO THANKS' and walk on you will have no problems and it adds to the experience.

Al Nassma is without a doubt the UAE’s most original chocolate concept. Basically, it is the only company in the world to specialise in camel milk chocolate. Though some may find the idea off-putting, camel milk is as a whole lot healthier than cow’s milk: it has five times more vitamin C and contains less fat, less lactose and more insulin, making it a good option for diabetics and the lactose intolerant.But Al Nassma’s has developed a large range of products, from Arabia chocolate bars flavoured with cardamom and cumin, to caramel-filled, camel-shaped truffles. If nothing else, Al Nassma makes a unique gift to friends and family abroad. Near the Dubai Outlet Mall (04 223 9289).

Cacao Sampaka: This avant-garde, Barcelona-based chocolate company is one of the few that is involved in every part of the chocolate-making process, from selecting the cocoa bean through to manufacturing the product. As a result, Cocoa Sampaka understands the nuances of the different beans, and brings its understanding to the consumer in the form of the Major Cacao Origins collection, which assembles chocolates from the main chocolate-producing countries in the world, including Venezuela, Grenada and the Ivory Coast. For something truly unusual, try the curry chocolate truffles, or indulge by sitting in the café while sipping on a cup full of the city’s richest hot chocolate. For true decadence, pair it off with a chocolate sandwich (Spain’s breakfast of champions).
The Dubai Mall (04 434 1427).

Candylicious: The world’s biggest candy store, perfect for Dubai’s biggest kids! Candylicious has everything a sweet-tooth could possibly desire, and is well worth a look. Highlights include the world’s biggest Hershey’s chocolate bar, a large section dedicated to gourmet chocolate and the full range of Jelly Belly goodies. And it’s right in front of the Dubai Aquarium, so munch on your newly purchased sweets as you watch huge sharks swimming past shoppers.
The Dubai Mall (04 330 8700).

Chocoa: Combining the best of Western and Eastern sweets, Chocoa’s Belgian chocolate-covered dates and dried apricots are heaped in toothsome piles in the showroom near the Mall of the Emirates. Baskets, boxes, platters and trays are all crammed with delicious treats, which make for excellent, if elaborate, gifts. The milk and dark chocolates are also tasty and come in either solid blocks or with a wide variety of fillings. We particularly like the hazelnut chocolates and the pralines, which are smooth and delicious.
Al Barsha, behind Mall of the Emirates (04 340 9092).

Forrey & Galland: The brainchild of two French chocolatiers, all the products at Forrey & Galland (a revival of a renowned, but defunct, Parisian label) are handmade, hand-picked and custom packaged in the UAE. The chocolates marry French and Middle-Eastern flavours and, though the practice sounds dubious, the results are to die for. The rose-petal chocolates – a mix of white chocolate and rose water – make for a luxurious and elegant edible. In keeping with the Arabic theme, Forrey & Galland also produce amazing chocolates with halwa and saffron, along with airy macaroons and rich truffles every bit as good as what you’d find in France.
The Dubai Mall (04 339 8850).

Ghraoui: Syria’s leading chocolate company has been a household name in Damascus since 1805. The company has more than 100 varieties of chocolate in its repertoire, from dark chocolate with Turkish delight and pistachios, to its Mediterranean shells of white chocolate and praline. 

The Dubai Mall, Lower Ground Level, (04 339 8264); Dubai Festival City (04 232 6133).

Galler Chocolatiers: Along with their divine white, dark and milk chocolates, these Belgian chocolatiers also offer creamy, smooth pastes, chocolate bars, cocoa powder, butter biscuits and ice cream. For a more personal touch, they can brand each chocolate individually – perfect for parties or gifts.
Mall of the Emirates (04 341 6218); Marina Mall (04 399 7816; www.galler.com).

As part of this event we also visited several malls and the new fish market and vegetable markets but more on that later.

To book your Dubai Chocolate Safari, get in touch via email (david@coeurdexocolat.com) or our contact form.

David.

If you would like to know about Islams chocolate story click here