A controversy has erupted in Germany over the popular “Dubai chocolate”. The District Court of Cologne ruled that products bearing the name “Dubai chocolate” must be produced exclusively in Dubai, reports russianemirates.com.

The story begins with the appearance of pistachio cream chocolates called Alyan Dubai in Aldi Süd stores at the end of 2024. The product quickly gained popularity thanks to active promotion on social networks. However, it turned out that the chocolates were produced in Türkiye, which led to legal proceedings initiated by the German importer of authentic Dubai chocolate.

The court ordered Aldi Süd to stop selling Turkish sweets under the Dubai brand, warning of fines in case of repeated violation. According to the judges, the use of the name “Dubai chocolate” is permissible only if there is a real connection between the product and the emirate.

The hype around Dubai chocolate led to an incident at Hamburg airport. Customs officers detained a passenger who was trying to smuggle 90 kilograms of pistachio chocolate without declaration. The woman purchased 460 tiles at a price of 4.60 euros per piece, while in Europe their cost reaches 25 euros.

Customs began investigating possible tax evasion because the cargo was not properly declared. Moreover, the lack of information about the composition and allergens on the packaging raised doubts about the safety of the products. As a result, all confiscated chocolate will either be sent back or destroyed.