The 20 snacks that ruled our Dubai childhoods
If Dubai was a car, it’d do 0-60 in less than three seconds.
It’s gone from a hazy, b in less than 20 years, and it seems set to continue to grow in ways still unimaginable.
Not enough appreciation is given to to the Dubai classics though – in this case, the classic snacks. Sure, your local Carrefour may stock the new jumbo Kit Kats, but a Kit Kat will never be a Pik-One. You’re yet to find a juice you like more than Areej, and you can’t understand why people would choose a bag of Lays over Chips Oman (fools).
*NOW READ: 15 things only people who grew up in Dubai would know*
So here’s a throwback for you to get you nostalgic about the snacks that ruled your childhood.
20 VINTAGE SNACKS THOSE WHO GREW UP IN DUBAI WILL REMEMBER…
1. Areej
Ah, Areej. The only cocktail you’ll ever need.
Photo: Facebook/I Grew Up In Dubai
2. Choki Choki Chocolate Paste
Ah, those were the days… when chocolate paste was eaten out of a tube and not scooped straight out of the jar with a teaspoon in bed on a Saturday afternoon.
Photo: Facebook/I Grew Up In Dubai
3. Unikai Strawberry Milk
Milk out of a carton will forever be better than milk out of a bottle. ‘Great look, great taste’.
Photo: Facebook/I Grew Up In Dubai
4. Jelly Caps
The original ‘once you pop you can’t stop’: it’s almost impossible to eat just one.
Photo: Facebook/I Grew Up In Dubai
5. Hobby Chocolate
The best (and the cheapest) nutty chocolate.
*More: The battle of Dubai’s food deliveries*
Photo: Facebook/I Grew Up In Dubai
6. Chips Oman
Named after the noise you make when eating them!
Photo: Facebook/I Grew Up In Dubai
7. Pik-One Chocolate Wafers
The original (and better) Kit Kat.
Photo: Facebook/I Grew Up In Dubai
8. Ice-Pops
We’re not sure what we preferred more. Eating it, or eating it and then sucking on the plastic wrapper for the next twenty minutes.
Photo: Facebook/I Grew Up In Dubai
10. Mr Krisps Cheez Balls
We’re still not sure why Mr Krisps is shaped like a cob of corn, but man he made it easy to get cheezy.
*More: Where to find superfoods in Dubai*
Photo: Facebook/I Grew Up In Dubai
11. Emirates Pofaki
Dubai’s take on cheese puffs (coming in packs of 25 so no one needs to be left out).
Photo: Facebook/I Grew Up In Dubai
12. Teem Soda
Because Sprite was too mainstream.
Photo: Facebook/I Grew Up In Dubai
13. Safari Bars
Forget Al Ain Safari, this was at one point the only Safari you needed in your life.
Photo: Facebook/I Grew Up In Dubai
14. Dixi Cola
Because Coca Cola was too mainstream.
Photo: Facebook/I Grew Up In Dubai
15. Runts
Tasted so much like actual fruit you could convince your mum they gave you vitamins.
*More: Movie nights: Nostalgic films with perfectly-themed snacks*
16. Melody Pops
The best part about Melody Pops wasn’t eating them, it was proceeding to annoy everyone with the whistle inside for the next 20 minutes.
17. RC Cola
For when you couldn’t find Dixi Cola.
Photo: Facebook/I Grew Up In Dubai
18. This Chewing Gum
Nothing says Middle East more than coffee-flavoured chewing gum. Where’s the garlic paste shwarma variety?
Photo: Facebook/I Grew Up In Dubai
19. Roasted Peanuts
What other snack would you need on a day out at the park?
Photo: Facebook/I Grew Up In Dubai
20. Big Babol Bubble Gum
Apparently, Big Babol was the ultimate bubble gum – unrivalled in terms of bubble-blowing capacity.
Photo: natapercombattere.blogspot.ae
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