These days, social media influences more and more of what we consume. Literally, in this case. Tiktok is full of influencers with new recipes every week, from protein foods to decadent desserts. This created a niche part of the app called “CookTok,” where creators share their food creations. Some of these foods have gone viral, leading influencers and brands to jump on the trend. But are they really that good? I am going to look at the viral TikTok dishes Dubai chocolate, tanghulu, and cloud bread to see if they are worth the attention.
The Dubai chocolate bar gained fame from TikTok when Sarah Hamouda, a British-Egyptian mom, turned her pregnancy cravings into a part-time job. Her mission was to provide some new flavors to classic chocolate. She did just that; this sweet treat has a luscious but crunchy chocolate outside and is filled with a flavorful pistachio interior. I have to say, for this chocolate in particular, you don’t realize how good it is until the next day when you’re craving it. This chocolate is worth the hype, and that’s why I think this TikTok food is appropriately praised.
Tanghulu originated as a Chinese street food before growing in popularity on social media, where it reached a global audience.This snack began in Northern China during the Song Dynasty. It’s said that when the Emperor’s favorite concubine fell ill, she was fed exclusively tanghulu, which people at the time credited for her fast recovery. Tanghulu consists of fruits, most commonly grapes, mandarin slices, and strawberries, poked through a kabob stick and then dipped in hot sugar. This leaves the fruit with a crunchy, sweet exterior. However, the hardened sugar on top of the already sweet fruit was overpowering. In the end, it covered up the fruit’s flavor. For that reason, I rate tanghulu as overrated.
Cloud bread’s fluffy texture makes it so fun to pull apart, but when you bite into it, you see that that is one of its only positive attributes. Cloud bread is essentially tasteless. However, this is expected due to cloud bread’s copious amounts of protein thanks to its main ingredient: egg whites. Overall, I rate this as slightly overhyped, as I prefer a snack with more flavor, but this one is definitely up to personal preference. Feel free to go try it out and maybe even tweak this recipe for yourself!
All of these foods were not only fun to try but also allowed me to experience foods from around the world and learn a little about their histories, too. Even though I would say the majority of these foods were overrated, trying them allowed me to see the reality of the content I consume. Social media often presents false narratives, so trying stuff for yourself and forming your own opinion without someone else’s influence is refreshing. This was a great experience, and I recommend trying these foods for yourself, especially if you enjoy cooking!
