GODIVA Taiwan Launches Pistachio-Kunafah Dark Chocolate Tablet
GODIVA Taiwan has announced the launch of its new product, the GODIVA Pistachio-Kunafah Dark Chocolate, a new chocolate tablet designed to capture the rich, luxurious flavors associated with the viral “Dubai Chocolate” trend.
The new offering features bittersweet dark chocolate paired with a full, aromatic pistachio filling along with crispy kunafah (or knafeh/kadayıf) for a crisp texture inspired by the Middle Eastern classic dessert The brand promises a flavor profile that is smooth yet lingering, and bitter yet gently sweet, delivering “surprising layers of aroma” and a “refined, luxurious taste” in each bite.
The GODIVA Pistachio-Filled Dark Chocolate Bar is currently being marketed with a promotional offer: mix & match any two bars for TWD 820 (single bar TWD 459).
GODIVA’s Year Of Pistachio Innovation
This launch by GODIVA Taiwan is part of a deliberate and global strategy by the brand to capitalize on the pistachio and kunafah/kadayıf phenomenon throughout the year, demonstrating the wide scope of the trend:
Pioneering the chocolate bar format: GODIVA initial initatives to join the trend include the launch of its Dubai-style chocolate in the United Kingdom, offered as a limited edition exclusively in Tesco stores, featuring the essential pistachio and kunafa ingredients. A Dark Pistachio-Filled Chocolate Tablet later arrived in Australia, catering to consumers who prefer intense cocoa notes.
Milk chocolate and kunafah variants: The brand launched a Pistachio Kunafah Milk Chocolate Tablet in a few markets including Hong Kong SAR, China, and Turkey, blending rich pistachio paste and crispy shredded pastry with silky smooth milk chocolate.
Expanding into seasonal and gifting products: The flavor was integrated into the brand’s premium offerings, such as the Pistachio Wonder praline included in the New Year Collection in Turkey.
Diversification into cold desserts: GODIVA successfully extended the flavor profile beyond confectionery by launching a Pistachio Chocolate Cup Ice Cream in Japan, featuring a two-toned pistachio and milk chocolate ice cream layered beneath a signature cracking chocolate shell, distributing it through convenience stores and supermarkets.
The latest Dark Chocolate-filled bar in Taiwan confirms GODIVA’s commitment to offering multiple interpretations of the “Dubai Chocolate” flavor combination across various global markets and product categories.
Industry Trends And Themes In The “Dubai Chocolate” Phenomenon
Global viral trend adoption and rapid commercialization: What began as a niche, social-media-driven phenomenon (“Dubai Chocolate”) has been rapidly industrialized—not just by small artisanal or DTC brands, but notably by global confectionery heavyweights moving at speed to capture short-term hype. GODIVA, Lindt, Läderach, and Russell Stover have all launched “Dubai-style” chocolate products, underscoring how quickly major incumbents are willing to chase viral relevance. Hershey’s pushed the playbook further by releasing a limited run of just 10,000 bars, sold through tightly controlled channels and a live countdown to deliberately engineer urgency and scarcity.
Product diversification and format innovation: Brands are deliberately expanding the popular flavor profile beyond the standard chocolate bar, translating it into multiple formats to capture distinct consumption occasions, retail environments, and seasonal demand. Lindt extended the concept with Dubai-style chocolate pralinés and a limited-edition chocolate drink in Japan. GODIVA Japan introduced a pistachio chocolate cup ice cream featuring a cracking chocolate shell, while Ghirardelli rolled out a Dubai-style chocolate sundae, followed by individually wrapped Dubai-style pralinés—signaling a clear push to test the flavor across indulgent, on-the-go, and dessert-led formats. Awfully Chocolate extends the flavor into a seasonal fusion format with its Pistachio 60% Cacao Mooncake.
Heritage and craftsmanship messaging for premiumization: High-end brands are linking the trendy flavor to their established heritage, culinary expertise, or fine craftsmanship to justify premium positioning, suggesting their version is an elevated or authentic interpretation. For instance, Bissinger’s anchors their Milk Cherry Pistachio Bon Bon Truffle to their 1668 appointment as “Confiseur Imperial” by King Louis XIV, Neuhaus emphasizes that their praline is “reinvented in Belgium by our Maîtres Chocolatiers.”, while Norman Love Confections adopts a subtler strategy, calling out the use of Sicilian pistachio as an ingredient-specific provenance cue rather than relying on broader heritage or craftsmanship narratives.
Advanced flavor customization and fusion: Brands are adding complexity to the core pistachio profile by pairing it with secondary, often contrasting, flavors—ranging from tangy fruits and complementary nuts to distinctive regional ingredients—to create differentiation beyond the base trend. Examples: Fine & Raw integrates global flavor cues with its Pistachio Matcha Chocolate Bar. Coco Jalila pushes contrast further with a Ruby Pistachio Crisp bar, combining texture with the bright, berry acidity of ruby chocolate. Lindt meanwhile unveiled Dubai-style dark and white chocolate bars.
Thematic and seasonal gifting integration: The pistachio and Dubai chocolate profile is being utilized as a high-value limited-edition flavor within gifting collections for major holidays and events. GODIVA included a Pistachio Wonder praline in their New Year Collection. Lindt meanwhile rolled out Dubai-style chocolates in festive packaging for the Christmas and New Year season.