Going viral on social media can result in massive gross sales, or within the case of the newest dessert meals craze, a worldwide ingredient scarcity.
Dubai chocolate within the sweet bar kind has been dominating the meals area on TikTok since final summer time. The candy deal with is made with milk chocolate full of a creamy pistachio and knafeh (or kunafa, a crispy, shredded phyllo pastry) filling.
However this newest meals development to hit TikToker’s feeds has led to one thing greater than gross sales — a worldwide shortage of pistachios.
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The recipe’s creator, Sarah Hamouda, is the founding father of Repair Dessert Chocolatier. The model launched as a facet hustle in 2021, per CNN, impressed by her “being pregnant cravings.”
However the surge in reputation will be traced to a December 2023 ASMR TikTok that has greater than 60 million views.
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The deal with’s most necessary ingredient, pistachio kernels, are largely grown in Iran or the U.S. Giles Hacking, from nut dealer CG Hacking, informed the Monetary Occasions that within the final yr, costs have surged from $7.65 to $10.30 a pound.
Iranian pistachio producers informed FT they’ve exported 40% extra nuts to the UAE within the final six months than the whole lot of the earlier yr.
In the meantime, pistachio provides within the U.S. fell 20% from February 2024 to February 2025, in accordance with information from the Administrative Committee for Pistachios seen by Meals Navigator.
Handwritten sign up a retailer window saying upcoming Dubai chocolate restock, Lafayette, California, March 25, 2025. (Photograph by Smith Assortment/Gado/Getty Pictures)
Farm Progress reported earlier this month that pistachio processors are “in all probability at 90% offered proper now.”
Repair Dessert Chocolatier bars are usually not but offered within the U.S., however there are many spinoffs, from massive chocolate manufacturers like Lindt (its CEO just lately informed CNBC the corporate “was shocked by the demand”) and mom-and-pop ice cream outlets serving up sundaes.
@natandirvadventures The Finest Candy Deal with @Hampton Chocolate Manufacturing facility #tampa #foodie #foodtiktok #tampadesserts #hamptonchocolatefactory #dubaichocolate #placestoeatintampa #thingstodointampa ♬ Azul – J Balvin
