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Dubai chocolate has been one of the most sought-after sweets in the world for about a year now. Characterised by its exclusive aura, high price and limited production, this viral treat filled with pistachio paste and kunafa puff originally created at the Dubai confectionery “Fix Dessert Chocolatier” continues to spark a global frenzy, and in turn, the pistachio crisis.
Usually made with chocolate, pistachio cream, tahini and knafeh, this chocolate has even found its way into fast food chains in places like a Shake Shack or Starbucks in drink form. So it is not surprising that, amid the worldwide pistachio boom, and its variations such as cream or ice cream, these nuts are disappearing fast, as some growers and wholesalers have told The Guardian. The newspaper points out that, in just one year, prices have risen from 7.65 to 10.30 dollars a pound.
It seems that pistachios, which are mainly grown in Iran and the United States, are more prone to shortages than other nuts. One of the reasons is that they are an “alternate production” nut, which means that one year they can produce a bumper crop, but the following year their yield is likely to be much lower than average. In addition, due to space restrictions and limited water supply, pistachios are only available in limited quantities, Farm Progress reports, which, added to Trump’s tariffs, further diminishes their supply.
