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After news broke that select Shake Shack locations across NYC were offering a Dubai Chocolate flavored shake, the Internet lost its mind. We wrote about that earlier this week, inadvertently opening the flood gates of our inbox to more Dubai Chocolate-related news. (Turns out, there's a lot of it.)
It's safe to say that the buzzy flavor has officially reached peak cultural frenzy, and the latest New York institution to ride the knafeh-fueled wave is the beloved frozen yogurt chain 16 Handles.
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Starting next Wednesday, April 16, every 16 Handles location will offer its new Dubai Chocolate flavor. Like so many re-interpretations of the beloved chocolate bar, this one will include a creamy pistachio-rich base, as well as milk chocolate bites and a hint of cocoa. If you're missing the crunch of the OG chocolate, you can add additional toppings. For this particular froyo, 16 Handles recommends hazelnut crunch topping, rice krispies and hot fudge for the ultimate Dubai chocolate experience.
In recent months, 16 Handles—which is already known for its wacky flavors, including french fry-flavored frozen yogurt—has been looking outward for new inspirations. Earlier this year, they launched a Kulfi (a frozen dairy dessert from India) froyo, and last month, they launched a Mango Lassi froyo. The Dubai chocolate flavor will be available for a limited time this spring, but the chain is known for bringing back popular flavors.
“The viral treat everyone is talking about has made its way to our handles as we froyo-ify the Dubai Chocolate trend,” said 16 Handles CEO Neil Hershman. “Our international flavor launches have been a hit this year and brought in a plethora of new customers and tastes! Our team also raised the bar even higher in the dairy-free space as we roll out new recipes with our proprietary Oat Milk soft-serve.”
Even though 16 Handles has now expanded across the U.S., the froyo spot was originally started in the East Village in 2008 by Solomon Choi. When it opened, it claimed to be the city's first self-serve frozen dessert shop. The price of a Dubai Chocolate froyo will vary depending on how many toppings you get, but a small will cost you around $6, medium around $9 and a large around $12.
Considering that every Dubai Chocolate drop ends up going viral, you might want to start planning your trip to 16 Handles now.