Pistachio prices have risen as demand for trendy Dubai chocolate spikes, sending supplies of the nut down.

TikTok famous Dubai Chocolate is being blamed for an international pistachio nut shortage after manufacturers scrambled to snap up stocks to satiate consumer demand.

The social media phenomenon Dubai chocolate is a chocolate bar filled with crispy knafeh pastry (angel hair), pistachio creme and tahini spread. It was first launched in 2021 by Dubai-based Fix Dessert Chocolatier. 

Pistachio prices have since tracked upwards from €6.65 ($7.65) a pound last year to €8.96 ($10.30) this year, with experts saying growers and traders are "tapped out".

Exports of pistachio from Iran, the world's second-largest producer, to the UAE have risen by 40% in the six months to March 2025, compared to total 2024 exports, the country's customs office states.