Overview

• Dubai chocolate, launched in 2021 by FIX Dessert Chocolatier, gained global fame after a 2023 TikTok video by Maria Vehera amassed over 120 million views.
• Pistachio prices have surged from $7.95 to $10.30 per pound in just one year, driven by the chocolate's viral popularity and increased demand for confectionery-grade kernels.
• The U.S.'s poor 2024 pistachio harvest, which yielded higher-quality whole nuts but fewer kernels, exacerbated the supply shortage.
• Iran, the world's second-largest pistachio producer, increased exports to the UAE by 40% in six months to meet soaring demand for the viral treat.
• Major brands like Lindt and Läderach have introduced their own Dubai chocolate-inspired products, while retailers have imposed purchase limits to manage shortages.