Dubai – Considered by some as the biggest innovation in 80 years when it comes to chocolates, the naturally pink-toned Ruby chocolate is additive-, coloring- and flavoring-free. It was discovered and patented by Belgium’s Barry Callebaut. company, which spent thirteen years mapping out the DNA of cocoa seeds that might yield a pink color. This brand new product is already getting explored in the UAE.
The cocoa beans are mostly sourced from Brazil and Côte d’Ivoire, and most are selected in the laboratory. “There’s no genetic mutation. The Ruby bean is completely natural, and that’s the beauty of this chocolate,” said Barry Callebaut Middle East and Africa Marketing manager Marjorie Bourdon. The company claims this is the fourth type of chocolate in existence in the world, after milk chocolate, white chocolate, and dark chocolate. According to Bourdon, techniques had to be developed so the chocolate would retain its color during manufacturing and in the kitchen, since its pinkness might fade away at high temperatures.
The Ruby chocolate was introduced in Asia in late 2017, and Kit Kat – the first brand to embrace it – was the exclusive supplier for a year. last year, the product went global in different formats, and December saw the UAE’s Chocodate put out its almond-filled date coated in pink chocolate. The product was a runner-up in the Innovation award at Gulfood 2020 last February in Dubai – which is where the interviews for this story took place.
Chocodate Marketing manager Mandeep Suri said the product is on sale in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Canada and Taiwan. Chocodate Ruby is not available in Brazil yet, but the other pink chocolates are available from Zaffari, a supermarket chain in Rio Grande do Sul.
Aside from the fact that millennial is the ‘in’ color right now, Ruby chocolate also boasts unique flavor. “It has an acidity, a citrus-like quality to it,” said Suri. “It tastes like berries, an intensely fruity flavor with notes of acidity and freshness,” said Bourdon.
Regular Chocodate dates with milk chocolate go for AED 10 (USD 2.7) per 100g, while Ruby dates cost AED 13 (USD 3.5). The pink product also ships in 250 g packages. “We’re planning on having other sizes, smaller gift packs at AED 5 (USD 1.3). We can tell people all over the world are interested and want to try it,” said Suri.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
