Dubai chocolate sensation pulled from shelves amid controversy
In 2024, the world went crazy for chocolate from Dubai with liquid pistachio filling. Customers were willing to pay even several hundred dollars for a bar. Meanwhile, a court in Cologne ordered the treat to be withdrawn from sale because it deemed the name misleading to customers.
Dubai pistachio chocolate became a hit, primarily on the internet. Videos on TikTok, where users indulge in the treat, have even reached millions of views. Many people also shared their own tips on how to prepare similar chocolate at home.
Dubai chocolate withdrawn from Aldi stores
As the world marveled at the pistachio delicacy, Andreas Wilmers, a German businessman who imports the original chocolate from Dubai, filed a complaint. The case was taken up by a court in Cologne.
The ruling indicates that the retail chain Aldi must withdraw the chocolate. The reason is the product's name, which, according to the court, may mislead customers.
In the judgment, mentioned by "DPA," it states that the average consumer will assume that the term Dubai Handmade Chocolate means the chocolate was produced in Dubai. The court found that the label with small print "Origin: Turkey" placed on the back cannot be considered a mere misunderstanding. This was precisely the product sold in Aldi stores.
Besides withdrawing the chocolate, the court ordered Aldi Süd to cover the costs of the proceedings. It is not yet known whether the retail chain will appeal the judgment, but it must withdraw the product from its stores.
"If you see 'Dubai Handmade Chocolate' on a chocolate bar that is actually mass-produced in Turkey, that is simply unacceptable," the complainant stated in an interview with AFP. In his opinion, phrases like "Dubai style" would be acceptable.
However, this is not the only dispute the businessman is involved in. He is also pursuing a case against a Swiss chocolate producer who changed the packaging of their product to a Dubai style. Additionally, he is considering legal action against another German retail chain that refused to stop selling a similar Dubai-style product.
Original Dubai chocolate worth several hundred dollars
The idea for Dubai chocolate originated at the Fix Dessert Chocolatier store in the United Arab Emirates. The famous delicacy is sold under the name "Can't Get Knafeh of It." The first version of the chocolate was introduced to the market in 2021.
The original Dubai chocolate is a bar filled with pistachio cream of a distinctive, crunchy consistency. The key ingredient – pistachio cream – is produced by the German company JM Posner.
Madness over this product prompted Lindt to create its own version. Lindt bars are sold for a price of 16 dollars, but due to huge demand, stocks disappeared quickly, and long queues formed at stores. As a result, a "black market" emerged, and the prices of Dubai chocolate from Lindt reached several hundred dollars.
