Dubai's chocolate sensation: Court halts misleading treats
In 2024, the world became obsessed with chocolate from Dubai featuring a liquid pistachio filling. Customers were willing to pay several hundred dollars for a single bar. Meanwhile, a court in Cologne ordered the treat to be withdrawn from sale because it found the name misleading to consumers.
The Dubai pistachio chocolate became a sensation, particularly online. Videos on TikTok showing users enjoying the treat garnered millions of views. Many people also shared tips on how to create similar chocolate at home.
Dubai chocolate withdrawn from Aldi stores
As the world was captivated by the pistachio delicacy, Andreas Wilmers, a German businessman who imports the original chocolate from Dubai, filed a complaint. The case was handled by a court in Cologne.
The ruling specifies that the retail chain Aldi must withdraw the chocolate because the court said its name could mislead consumers.
The judgement states that the average consumer will assume that Dubai Handmade Chocolate means the chocolate was produced in Dubai. The court determined that the small-print label stating "Origin: Turkey" on the back "cannot be considered a mere misunderstanding." This was the exact product sold in Aldi stores.
In addition to requiring Aldi Süd to remove the chocolate from its shelves, the court ordered Aldi Süd to cover the costs of the proceedings. It is not yet clear whether the retail chain will appeal the decision, but it is required to do so.
In an interview with AFP, the complainant said that labelling a chocolate bar as Dubai Handmade Chocolate, while it is mass-produced in Turkey, is entirely inappropriate. He suggested that terms such as "Dubai style" would be more suitable.
However, this is not the only issue the businessman is dealing with. There is also a case against a Swiss chocolate producer who altered their packaging to a Dubai style. Furthermore, he is considering legal action against another German retail chain that has refused to stop selling a similar Dubai-style product.
Original Dubai chocolate worth several hundred dollars
The concept for Dubai chocolate was developed at the Fix Dessert Chocolatier store in the United Arab Emirates. The popular treat is marketed as "Can't Get Knafeh of It." The first version of the chocolate was launched in 2021.
The original Dubai chocolate bar is a bar filled with pistachio cream, which gives it a distinctive, crunchy texture. The key ingredient, pistachio cream, is produced by the German company JM Posner.
This product craze prompted Lindt to produce its version. Lindt bars are priced at 16 CAD, but the stock quickly ran out due to high demand, leading to long lines in stores. Consequently, a "black market" emerged, where prices for Lindt's Dubai chocolate reached several hundred dollars.
