Qand Chocolate Brand Launches in Sharjah Using Local Ingredients

A new chocolate brand, Qand, has been launched in Sharjah, focusing on producing candies and chocolates using locally sourced organic ingredients. The brand was introduced during the fourth wheat harvest ceremony at the Mleiha wheat farm.
Qand will source its ingredients through Ektifa, Sharjah Agriculture and Livestock Production, which provides access to raw materials including dates, fruits, honey and milk.
The brand has collaborated with a specialised French institute to develop its initial product range, described as chocolate varieties that balance taste with nutritional considerations.
Proposed offerings include pumpkin chocolate bites with almond flakes, using Mleiha milk and a filling made from dates and pumpkin, alongside another product featuring an Al Faya honeycomb centre paired with Belgian dark chocolate and sea salt.
The name 'Qand' refers to crystallised sugar, a term that entered Arabic through Persian and later influenced European languages, including the English word “candy.”