Dubai's viral Kunafa Chocolate Leads to Pistachio Shortage
- Publish date: Monday، 21 April 2025
You read that right. A chocolate bar from Dubai has gone so viral that it’s now being blamed for a global pistachio shortage. According to a recent Financial Times report, this sweet treat has caused pistachio prices to skyrocket and supply chains to feel the crunch - literally.
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It All Started With a Craving
The story began in 2021 with the launch of “Can’t Get Knafeh Of It”, a unique chocolate bar by Emirati brand FIX Dessert Chocolatier. The bar blends pistachio cream, crushed pretzels, and milk chocolate. It was created by Sarah Hamouda and her husband Yezen Alani, inspired by Sarah’s pregnancy cravings.
One TikTok, 120 Million Views
Things really took off in December 2023 when Dubai-based TikTok influencer Maria Vehera posted an ASMR-style video of herself eating the bar. The video exploded, racking up over 120 million views, and instantly turned the chocolate into a must-have treat.
FIX Doesn’t Export, So the World Got Creative
Since FIX doesn’t export outside the UAE, global fans couldn’t get their hands on the original. So chocolatiers across the world jumped on the trend. Brands like Maison Samadi, Lindt, and Läderach all launched their own pistachio kunafa-inspired bars to satisfy demand.
A Treat That’s Draining the Nut Market
This sudden obsession has put major pressure on the global pistachio supply, which mainly comes from the United States and Iran. Prices have jumped from $7.95 to $10.30 per pound in just a year.
Short Harvests and Surging UAE Demand
The situation is worse because of a smaller-than-expected US harvest—and growing demand in the UAE, where Iranian pistachio imports have risen by 40% in just six months. Nut traders like Giles Hacking confirm: “The world is currently experiencing a severe shortage of pistachios.”
One Bar, Global Impact
So yes, a chocolate bar born from a pregnancy craving in Dubai is now reshaping dessert menus and nut markets around the globe. Sweet? Totally. Unexpected? Absolutely. Nutty? You bet.
