Emirates Airlines delights passengers with over 45m luxury chocolates

Mian Mujahid Shah, Gulf Today

Celebrating World Chocolate Day on July 7, Dubai-based airline Emirates revealed on Wednesday that it served more than 45 million pieces of luxury chocolates onboard every year in all classes.

Sweetening the ‘fly better’ experience, Emirates serves artisan chocolate as part of the signature meal service in all classes, to 140 destinations around the world.

In the past year, Economy Class passengers enjoyed 36.3 million chocolate treats, while Premium Economy Class passengers were served 322,000 chocolates. In Business Class, customers have indulged in 8.2 million chocolates – while First Class customers, who have access to unlimited chocolates and are invited to take away some of their favourite flavours, have relished 122,000 large gourmet chocolate boxes.

Featured Chocolate currently onboard – Valrhona

Emirates collaborates closely with connoisseur chocolatiers from around the globe and rotates the chocolate onboard every 3 months to delight frequent flyers. Currently onboard is elite French chocolatier – Valrhona.

Emirates partnered with Valrhona to create a bespoke luxury chocolate box for First Class customers, which are offered after meals onboard.

Recognised worldwide as the choice of prestigious chefs and chocolate gourmands, Valrhona was established in France in 1922 by pastry maker and confectioner, Albéric Guironnet. With over 100 years of passionate and meticulous craftmanship for exceptional chocolates, Valrhona is renowned for its dedication to excellence and innovation in the art of chocolate making, as well as its commitment to ethical sourcing and environmental responsibility, holding a B Corp certification which recognises the world's most committed companies.

Emirates partnered with Valrhona to create a bespoke luxury chocolate box for First Class customers, which are offered after meals onboard, Zeyneb Larabi, Global Travel Retail Director of Valrhona remarked.

“Partnering with Emirates underscores our shared values of excellence, attention to detail and a commitment to creating unforgettable experiences. This collaboration goes beyond offering a delightful product, it creates lasting memories for customers enjoying the Emirates experience.” said Zeyneb Larabi.

Savour a world of chocolate with Emirates

As part of the regular rotation for Emirates customers, chocolates are selected from the most renowned producers globally including Bateel, Coco Jalila and Forrey & Galland from the UAE, Butlers from Ireland, Godiva, Canonica and Neuhaus from Belgium, Pacari from Ecuador, and Hotel Chocolat from the UK. The chocolate brands are selected for a multitude of reasons including their content, whether dark, milk or white chocolate, bonbons, pralines or truffles, with fillings of creamy ganache or tangy fruit, as well as the taste and texture component, brand recognition, current trends and sustainable sourcing.

Chocolate Desserts Onboard Emirates

Across all classes, Emirates customers craving a chocolate fix can also enjoy chocolate desserts and hot chocolate from the menu.

In First Class, delicious desserts for customers include chocolate mousse with passionfruit, delicate white chocolate tart, a velvety chocolate fondant with mascarpone cream, or a vegan chocolate pecan cake with whipped ganache.

Across all classes, Emirates customers craving a chocolate fix can also enjoy chocolate desserts and hot chocolate from the menu.

In Business Class and Premium Economy, customers can indulge in a vegan onyx avocado chocolate tart or a creamy banana mango and milk chocolate dome, or chocolate mocha marquise wedge, drizzled in salted caramel. In Economy Class, customers can finish their meal with a zesty chocolate and orange mousse, or a milk chocolate caramel cake, with a dollop of tangy raspberry coulis.

On longer routes, chocolate candy bars are served in a snack tray and chocolate lollipops are offered to children during festive celebrations. First Class customers can savour 85% dark chocolate from Lindt in their goodie basket. At Emirates’ A380 Onboard lounge, customers can also help themselves to vegan and non-vegan sweet treats of M&Ms, chocolate cake and chocolate mini treats.

Chocolate in Emirates Lounges

Emirates Lounges offer a seductive chocolate experience, featuring homemade Emirates chocolate ice cream, signature Costa Coffee hot chocolate, and an array of Emirates MasterChef creations. These include a white chocolate and passionfruit nectar cake, rich chocolate macarons and indulgent dark chocolate cake amongst many others.

The newly introduced Emirates First Class dessert trolley elevates the experience further with Valrhona Grand Cru chocolate truffles featuring Jivara 40% and Guanaja 70%, chocolate-coated madeleines and exquisite desserts like a crunchy milk chocolate cake with hazelnut praline, and a luscious roasted banana, chocolate and caramel cake.