Watch how Dubai's viral chocolate craze caused a global pistachio shortage.
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00:00At first, it just tastes like a normal milk chocolate with kunafa inside.
00:05But I feel, as you start eating it, you can't stop.
00:11This chocolate isn't just dessert.
00:13It's the reason pistachios are suddenly more expensive.
00:15The cause, a viral chocolate bar from Dubai that's triggered a global pistachio shortage.
00:20The bar gained fame after a TikTok video in December 2023 ranked up 120 million views,
00:25leading to a rush for the pistachio-filled treat.
00:27This surge led to imitations from chocolate brands worldwide, increasing the demand for pistachios.
00:32And oh my god, this filling is crunchy and creamy with pistachio cream and kunafa.
00:38And now, there's a shortage.
00:40Prices of pistachio kernels have jumped from $7.65 a pound last year to over $10.30 now.
00:47In rupees, that's a spike from 654 rupees to around 880 per pound.
00:52And this isn't just about dessert anymore.
00:54The result is a global shortage of pistachio kernels mostly grown in the US and Iran.
00:59A poor US harvest and soaring demand in the UAE have caused a global pistachio shortage.
01:04To keep up, Iran boosted exports to the UAE by 40% in six months.
01:08Traders say the market was already tight and the viral trend made it worse.
01:12Chocolatiers are scrambling to source pistachios and some stores have started limiting how many bars each customer can buy.
01:18Chocolate lovers were already hit by a cocoa shortage as a poor 2024 harvest nearly tripled prices, leading makers to shrink bars and reduce cocoa content.
01:26Even matcha, a powdered green tea from Japan, became a trendy consumable boosted by social media.
01:31From 2010 to 2023, demand nearly tripled, leading to global shortages and rising prices.
01:37Will I buy this again?
01:38Definitely, because I love milk chocolate and pistachio.
01:41What started as an internet sensation has now become a global supply chain story.