Dubai Chocolate Fever: How TikTok Triggered a Global Pistachio Crisis.

Acute Pistachio Shortage in the Global Market Due to Chocolate Popularity on TikTok

A significant shortage of pistachios has emerged worldwide due to the explosive rise in popularity of Dubai chocolate with pistachio cream, which became a hit on TikTok. This issue has been exacerbated by poor nut harvests in the USA, the main supplier of pistachios. This was reported by The Financial Times.

In 2021, the Emirati company FIX first introduced chocolate with pistachio cream, kadaif, and milk chocolate. However, true popularity only arrived in December 2023 after a viral TikTok video garnered 120 million views.

This surge in popularity led to a sharp increase in pistachio prices - nearly 35%, from $7.65 to $10.30 per pound. CG Hacking expert Giles Hacking stated that the global market has nearly exhausted its nut supplies.

The Lindt brand is already offering Dubai chocolate in the UK for £10 for a 145-gram bar, which is twice as expensive as other products from the company. The enormity of the demand is evident as stores are limiting the number of bars that one buyer can purchase.

Confectionery companies are introducing new products with pistachio cream, such as Easter eggs from Lindt and supermarket Wm Morrison.

The pistachio shortage has several causes: poor harvests in the USA, most high-quality nuts leaving few cheap Indian kernels used in chocolate production, and increased market competition.

Iran, the second-largest exporter of pistachios, increased its supplies to the UAE by 40% in the first half of 2025. A representative from the Iranian Pistachio Association, Behrouz Agah, admitted that such a sharp price rise was unexpected, as recently, in 2023, there was a glut of nuts, leading to falling prices.

American farmers have already begun transitioning from almond cultivation to pistachios. However, the first harvest will not arrive until autumn 2026. In the meantime, confectioners continue to grapple with the reality: the demand for pistachio chocolate does not diminish, while raw materials are critically lacking.

Analysis:

The popularity of Dubai chocolate with pistachio cream, which started thanks to TikTok, triggered an acute pistachio shortage in the global market. This led to a sharp rise in nut prices and created problems for confectionery companies. Since there was recently a surplus of pistachios, no one expected such a sudden rise in popularity and demand for them. American farmers have started to transition to pistachio cultivation, but the first harvest will be several years away. Meanwhile, consumers continue to crave pistachio chocolate, confirming its market popularity.