The chocolate bar gaining significant traction on social media has caused an international pistachio kernel shortage.
Within a year, the price of this nut, primarily cultivated in Iran and the United States, increased from $7.65 (approximately €6.73) to $10.30 (approximately €9.06) per kilogram, according to trader CG Hacking, as reported by the Financial Times.
The poor harvest last year in the United States, the world’s leading exporter, had already raised alarms. However, the nuts were of higher quality and sold whole, exacerbating the shortage of pistachios used as a base in chocolate bars.
Furthermore, Iranian producers exported 40% more pistachios to the United Arab Emirates in the six months leading up to March compared to the previous year.
The chocolate craze in Dubai began with the creation of a bar by producer Fix, combining milk chocolate, a type of shredded dough called kataifi, and pistachio cream filling.
Other major chocolate manufacturers, such as Läderach and Lindt, have developed their versions of the product but are struggling to meet international demand.
Charles Jandreau, the general manager of the Prestat Group, which owns several British luxury chocolate brands, mentioned to the Financial Times that the demand for these bars surprised the industry.
“It seems to have come out of nowhere. Suddenly, it’s seen in every store,” he stated.
The first video praising the Dubai chocolate was released at the end of 2023, amassing over 120 million views.
