Baskin-Robbins' Dubai-Style Ice Cream Sells 1 Million in 15 Days

*This article is part of a series where Seoul Economic Daily reporters purchase and review the hottest new products in retail and food industries.*

Baskin-Robbins Korea has launched "Mom is an Alien from Dubai," a new product combining its signature "Mom is an Alien" ice cream with Dubai-style dessert elements. The item sold over 1 million units within 15 days of release. But how does it actually taste? Our reporters tried it firsthand.

The new product features pistachio and chocolate ice cream as its base, topped with kadaif (thin, crispy fried noodles) and chocolate-coated chewy rice cake balls, emphasizing both crunchiness and chewiness. The dessert attracted attention for recreating the distinctive texture of Dubai desserts in ice cream form.

Our tasting panel agreed that the crispness of the kadaif and the chewy texture of the rice cake balls were distinctly noticeable, offering a different "chewing experience" from the original "Mom is an Alien." However, opinions diverged on taste—some praised it as "a successful ice cream adaptation of Dubai desserts," while others felt it "strayed too far from the original 'Mom is an Alien' flavor."

Dreaming Gourmet (Prefers straightforward flavors but tries to appreciate layers in food. Bread over rice. Loves cilantro and coconut!)

*Mom is an Alien from Dubai*

The first bite delivers freshness, followed immediately by pleasant sweetness. Some say the Dubai dessert trend is fading, but if it tastes this good, there's no reason not to try it. Dubai's spring will come again. The kadaif and chocolate-coated rice cake balls add fun texture. However, I didn't feel much connection to the original "Mom is an Alien."

Taste ★★★★☆

Price ★★★☆☆

Would repurchase ★★★★★

Three Coffees a Day (A walking melting pot of flavors, from Korean to Mediterranean cuisine. Who you eat with matters more than what you eat)

*Mom is an Alien from Dubai*

It's delicious. The Dubai series translates well into ice cream form. The pistachio flavor is balanced, and the kadaif provides appropriate crunch. While Baskin-Robbins' recent "True Chon-Chocolate" followed the brand's proven formula, this product offers unique flavors and textures that stand apart. If you can set aside expectations tied to the "Mom is an Alien" name, it's quite enjoyable. It's certainly more "Dubai" than the flood of Dubai-themed beverages on the market.

Taste ★★★☆☆

Price ★★★☆☆

Would repurchase ★★★★☆

Mint Choco Guardian (Loves both spicy and sweet, but hates anything "too" extreme. The type who needs something spicy to cleanse the palate after sweets)

*Mom is an Alien from Dubai*

This definitely wasn't for me. It's certainly very sweet, but not the kind of sweetness I prefer. What disappointed me most was that it lacked the chocolate sweetness characteristic of "Mom is an Alien." The original features crunchy chocolate balls, but this product emphasizes the chewy rice cake texture instead. While the kadaif's crispy texture was well-executed, I wish they had preserved more of the original's characteristics given that they borrowed the name.

Taste ★☆☆☆☆

Price ★★★☆☆

Would repurchase ☆☆☆☆☆

Taste Scrooge (A picky eater who rarely gives desserts a second glance. But once something clicks, sticks to it—a classic "fixed preference" type)

*Mom is an Alien from Dubai*

Baskin-Robbins has jumped on the Dubai trend. The kadaif chews well with a nice crispy texture. Not many Dubai-inspired food products have succeeded, but this one holds its own. The cocoa-dusted rice cake balls that appear throughout could have been omitted—they interfere with the kadaif's texture. Perhaps because I've become too accustomed to Dubai flavors, it didn't leave a strong impression. I might eat this solo occasionally when oil price volatility reminds me of Dubai. If choosing three flavors in a pint, I'd probably just pick the original "Mom is an Alien."

Taste ★★★☆☆

Price ★★☆☆☆

Would repurchase ★★☆☆☆