Dubai chocolate trend leaves Swiss chocolatiers competing for pistachios 

The TikTok-fuelled popularity of Dubai chocolate has prompted Swiss chocolate companies to develop their own versions, spiking demand for pistachios. Dubai chocolate was created in 2021 by British-Egyptian entrepreneur Sarah Hamouda, the founder of Dubai-based FIX Dessert Chocolatier. The chocolate filled with pistachio cream, tahini and kadayif (crispy pastry threads often used in oriental desserts) went viral on TikTok in December 2023 thanks to a video posted by influencer Maria Vehera. The popularity of Hamouda’s creation prompted chocolate makers worldwide to come up with their own versions of Dubai chocolate, prompting a run on one raw ingredient: pistachios. The price of pistachios reached a high of $27.81 (CHF22.80) in 2024 compared to $17 in 2022. Dubai chocolate was branded as a luxury treat, and Swiss chocolate makers latched on the trend, launching their own versions. Last November, chocolate firm Lindt & Sprüngli announced it was releasing a very limited batch of 500 ...