Last week we wrote about the latest trends in chocolate. We missed a trend, though, probably because none of the experts we interviewed were from Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. Dubai is home of Al Nassma Chocolate, makers of the “first and finest camel milk chocolate.” Al Nassma intends to expand beyond the Middle East into the U.K (Harrod’s) and the U.S. (San Francisco’s Chocolate Covered Company) by next year.
The camel milk for Al Nassma Chocolate will be supplied by a 3,000 camel farm in Dubai that appears to be owned by the Dubai government. That, my friends, is a lot of camels. According to media reports, the milking of camels is not for the faint-hearted. Camels don’t like to be milked and will sometimes lay down on the job, so to speak.
Now to the taste and benefits of camel milk chocolate. According to the company, camel milk contains 5 times more Vitamin C than cow milk, less fat and less lactose. Some believe it is an aphrodisiac. One American living in Dubai said the camel milk chocolates are “creamy and delicious.”
The company is marketing the chocolates as a “luxury” product which will only be sold in upscale stores and will “never be in supermarkets.” Hhhmm. I don’t know about you but I feel quite luxurious after consuming supermarket purchased chocolate bars, chips, bunnies, pumpkins, hearts, etc. Plus, what about grocery stores that cater to Mediterranean tastes?
While the dark chocolate candy category in the U.S. has been growing the last several years Americans still prefer milk chocolate slightly more than dark chocolates. Who knows? Perhaps camel milk chocolate will give the category a shot in the arm.
Are you game? Who’s willing to try it?
Camel by ANGELOUX.
