If you’ve spent any time on TikTok lately, you’ve probably spotted the glossy green bars covered in cracked pastry and pistachio cream that everyone keeps calling “Dubai chocolate.” What started as a luxury import costing €35 a bar has now landed on supermarket shelves — and sold out almost immediately. So what exactly makes this chocolate worth the buzz?

4 related posts

Filling: kadayif and pistachio cream · Origin: Dubai-style chocolate bar · Key Ingredients: milk chocolate, chopped filo pastry, pistachio · Viral Status: TikTok sensation · Supermarket Brands: Lindt Dubai Style

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact origin point of the viral trend
  • When TikTok virality first sparked
  • Whether other retailers will restock
3Timeline signal
  • March 20, 2025 — Lidl Ireland launch (Checkout.ie)
  • Late March 2025 — sellout reported (Checkout.ie)
  • Early 2025 — trend exploded on social media (Checkout.ie)
4What’s next
  • No ongoing Lidl Ireland availability post-sellout (Checkout.ie)
  • Other retailers may launch own versions (Checkout.ie)
  • Original bars still available at specialist retailers (Checkout.ie)
Attribute Details
Type Pistachio kadayif-filled bar
Inventor Style Dubai chocolate (شوكولاتة دبي)
Common Brands Lindt Dubai Style
Texture Crunchy knafeh-like
Filling Ingredients Pistachio and kadayif
Candy Origin Turkey (kadayif)
Certification Rainforest Alliance (Lidl version)

What is Dubai Chocolate Made Of?

Dubai chocolate is a milk chocolate bar filled with pistachio paste or ground pistachios and crispy kadayif pastry. The green colour comes from the pistachios, which also give the filling its distinctive nutty flavour (Good Housekeeping UK). The kadayif — also spelled kataifi or kataïfi — is shredded filo pastry that provides a crucial textural contrast to the smooth chocolate shell.

Key Ingredients

The filling combines two components that rarely appear together in Western confectionery: ground pistachios (often as a cream or paste) and dry-roasted kadayif strands. This combination creates a texture sometimes described as knafeh-like — the same shredded pastry used in the popular Middle Eastern dessert of the same name (Good Housekeeping UK).

  • Milk chocolate shell
  • Pistachio cream or ground pistachios
  • Crispy kadayif (shredded filo pastry)
  • Some variants include black sesame, kinako, or white chocolate

Original vs Supermarket Versions

The original Dubai chocolate, created by Dubai chocolatier Sarah Hamouda, uses premium ingredients throughout. Lidl Ireland’s limited-edition version launched on 20 March 2025 at €4.99 per bar — a fraction of the original’s price — while using Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa (Checkout.ie). The supermarket version sold out within one week of launch, demonstrating the strength of demand.

Bottom line: Budget-conscious buyers should target supermarket dupes at €4.99 for the authentic kadayif-pistachio experience; those seeking the artisan original should budget for the €35 luxury version.

What’s So Special About the Dubai Chocolate?

The appeal lies in the textural contrast: a thick milk chocolate shell giving way to a gooey, flakey interior that crunches when you bite down. This combination — smooth outside, crispy and creamy inside — proved irresistible to social media audiences hungry for something different from standard chocolate bars.

Unique Texture

The dry-roasted kadayif strands create small pockets of crunch throughout the pistachio filling. Unlike chocolate bars with nuts mixed throughout, Dubai chocolate delivers textural variety in every bite — a quality that translated exceptionally well to short-form video demonstrations (Good Housekeeping UK).

Viral Appeal

Dubai chocolate went viral on TikTok through taste tests and Instagram unboxings, with the trend exploding on social media in early 2025 (Checkout.ie). The Irish market saw huge demand mirroring the global TikTok hype, prompting retailers to take notice (Extra.ie).

Why this matters

The trend shows how quickly viral food moments can translate into supermarket strategy. Lidl Ireland launched its dupe specifically targeting TikTok enthusiasts already searching for the product.

What this means: supermarkets are now directly chasing viral search demand rather than waiting for trends to mature.

Why is Dubai Chocolate So Expensive?

The original Dubai chocolate by Sarah Hamouda costs around €35 per bar — significantly more than standard chocolate. Several factors drive this price point.

Production Costs

Premium pistachios alone command high prices, particularly when sourced for quality and flavour. The kadayif component adds further complexity, requiring specific processing from Turkey to maintain the right texture (Checkout.ie).

Premium Ingredients

The combination of rich pistachio filling and the exotic kadayif creates what many describe as a luxury taste experience. Lidl’s version at €4.99 per bar offered that same experience at an accessible price point, using Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa to justify its positioning while keeping costs lower through supermarket scale (Checkout.ie).

The catch

Lidl’s €4.99 bar sold out within a week — demonstrating that the affordable version attracted nearly as much demand as the original. Once supply stopped, there was no ongoing availability as of late March 2025.

The implication: even budget versions can trigger sellouts when viral demand outpaces supply chain speed.

Does Lidl Sell Dubai Chocolate?

Yes — but it was a limited-edition launch. Lidl Ireland released its own private-label Dubai chocolate on 20 March 2025, priced at €4.99 per bar (Checkout.ie).

Lidl Versions

The Lidl Ireland version features pistachio and crispy kadayif from Turkey, with packaging inspired by Dubai luxury aesthetics (Extra.ie). The bar used Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa, a sustainability credential that aligned with Lidl’s broader ethical sourcing commitments.

Availability in Ireland and UK

Irish shoppers could find the product in Lidl Ireland stores from 20 March 2025. The product sold out within one week of launch due to overwhelming demand. As of late March 2025, there is no ongoing availability in Lidl Ireland stores (Checkout.ie). UK availability through Lidl has not been confirmed at time of publication.

The upshot

For budget-conscious buyers who missed the Lidl window, other supermarket options are beginning to emerge — though availability remains inconsistent across regions.

Where Else Can You Find Dubai Chocolate?

Beyond Lidl, several retail channels stock Dubai chocolate or similar products, though prices and availability vary considerably.

Tesco and Dunnes Stores

Lindt Dubai Style chocolate bars are available at Tesco and Dunnes Stores, offering a branded alternative to own-label versions. These provide the recognisable packaging and quality associated with Lindt’s chocolate expertise. For those interested in learning more about Dubai chocolate, عيد ميلاد سعيد للحبيب والحبيبة offers a comprehensive guide.

Online and Specialty

TikTok Shop sells the viral knafeh pistachio chocolate, including Lidl listings, for those willing to order online. Specialist confectionery retailers also stock the original bars, though at prices closer to the €35 mark set by Sarah Hamouda’s version (Checkout.ie).

Upsides

  • Unique textural experience unavailable in standard chocolate
  • Supermarket versions make it accessible at lower prices
  • Rainforest Alliance options available for ethically-minded buyers
  • Strong TikTok visibility means demand is unlikely to disappear

Downsides

  • Limited-edition releases sell out quickly
  • Original bars cost €35 — significant premium pricing
  • Irish market saw fastest sellouts; other regions may face delays
  • Ongoing availability remains uncertain post-sellout

The pattern: retailers who move fast on viral trends capture demand spikes, but slow restock cycles leave shoppers searching for alternatives.

Dubai Chocolate Specs and Variants

Three formats dominate the market: original artisan bars, supermarket own-label versions, and branded alternatives from established chocolate makers.

Brand/Format Price Point Key Features Availability
Sarah Hamouda Original €35/bar Premium artisan, luxury packaging Specialist retailers
Lidl Ireland €4.99/bar Rainforest Alliance cocoa, limited-edition Sold out late March 2025
Lindt Dubai Style Mid-range Branded alternative, consistent supply Tesco, Dunnes Stores
TikTok Shop listings Variable Various sellers, international shipping Online only

The implication: the tiered market structure gives shoppers clear trade-offs between price, authenticity, and reliability of supply.

Sources

  • Checkout.ie — Irish retail news reporting on Lidl launch, pricing, and sellout timeline
  • Good Housekeeping UK — Ingredient breakdown, recipe context, and definition
  • Extra.ie — Irish media coverage of the dupe launch
  • TikTok Shop — Direct product listing reference

“Lidl Ireland has launched its own limited-edition private-label version of the viral Dubai chocolate, which has sold out just a week after launching.”

— Checkout.ie, Publication

“Priced at €4.99 a bar… offered a taste of luxury at an affordable price.”

— Checkout.ie, Publication

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This viral pistachio-kadayif filled bar, priced from €4.99 at Lidl, gains traction worldwide including the detailed US buying guide on ingredients and taste.

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Frequently asked questions

What does Dubai chocolate taste like?

Dubai chocolate delivers a gooey, flakey texture from the kadayif pastry combined with a nutty pistachio flavour. The milk chocolate shell provides sweetness that balances the slightly savoury notes from the Middle Eastern ingredients.

What is a Dubai chocolate bar?

A Dubai chocolate bar is a milk chocolate bar filled with pistachio cream or ground pistachios and crispy kadayif — shredded filo pastry that adds crunch. The trend was popularised by Sarah Hamouda’s original creation from Dubai.

What is the price of Dubai chocolate?

Original Dubai chocolate bars cost around €35 per bar. Lidl Ireland launched an own-brand version for €4.99 per bar in March 2025, which sold out within one week.

Is Dubai chocolate available in Ireland?

Lidl Ireland launched its own version on 20 March 2025 for €4.99, but it sold out by late March 2025. Lindt Dubai Style bars remain available at Tesco and Dunnes Stores.

Does Tesco sell Dubai chocolate?

Tesco stocks Lindt Dubai Style bars, which offer a branded alternative to the viral trend. Availability and pricing vary by location.

Is Lidl Dubai chocolate any good?

Based on coverage from Irish media, the Lidl version received positive reception for delivering the core kadayif-pistachio experience at a fraction of the original’s price. The Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa also appealed to ethically-minded buyers.

Is there Dubai chocolate ice cream?

The Dubai chocolate trend has primarily manifested in chocolate bars, though variants continue to emerge. Ice cream formats have not been widely reported at time of publication.

What brands make Dubai chocolate?

Key brands include Sarah Hamouda’s original from Dubai, Lidl Ireland’s limited-edition own-label version, and Lindt’s Dubai Style bar available at major retailers. TikTok Shop also lists various sellers offering the product.