SOURCE: 30만원 줘도 못사서 난리…장원영 한 입에 '품절 대란'
As the craze for 'Dubai Chewy Cookie' spreads, bakery and cafe owners are rushing to sell them, causing the price of the key ingredient, pistachios, to skyrocket.
According to industry sources on the 12th, one major retail chain raised pistachio prices by 20% this year. They explained that this was caused by the rising cost of raw material and the high KRW-USD exchange rate (weakening of the KRW). The consumer price for 400g of shelled pistachios rose from about 18,000 KRW in 2024 to 20,000 KRW last year, and reached 24,000 KRW this year. The international market price for American pistachio kernels is currently around $12 per pound, about 1.5 times higher than a year ago (around $8).
However, even with the price surge, pistachios are continuously selling out. This appears to be because more people are making their own pistachio spread at home due to the recent Dubai chewy cookie trend.
Dubai chewy cookie is a dessert created in South Korea, inspired by the Dubai chocolate trend that went viral in 2024. It is made by mixing pistachio spread with kataifi for the filling, then wrapping it in a marshmallow dough mixed by cocoa powder. The texture is soft and chewy on the outside, while the inside is savory and crispy.
Dubai chewy cookie gained attention after IVE's member Jang Wonyoung posted about it on her social media in September last year. The recipe, originally developed by a small business owner, spread rapidly afterwards. Although many cafes and dessert shops sell it now, it has become so popular that it is hard to buy unless you line up at opening time.
The number of pickup orders for Dubai chewy cookie on Baemin surged by 321% in the 1st week of this month compared to a month ago. Baemin had revamped its app last October to allow users to find nearby pickup options based on their current location. Searches for Dubai chewy cookie on Baemin in December increased 25 times more compared to 2 months prior.
As a result, more stores implement purchase limits. While prices vary widely, ranging from 5,000 KRW to over 10,000 KRW per piece the size of a glutinous rice cake, the popularity remains strong. Some restaurants even sell it as a 'bait item,' while mainly serving cold noodles, sundae, or chicken feet. Chef Jung Hoyoung also shared on social media that even a lounge operated by a furniture store in Incheon is selling them.
A giant Dubai chewy cookie priced at over 300,000 KRW has also become a hot topic. A dessert shop from Jeju Island recently introduced a massive version at a pop-up store in a department store in Gangnam, Seoul. It is equivalent to 108 regular pieces. It is so large that it must be held with both hands.
According to the store, the item is normally worth about 600,000 KRW at list price, but was sold for 300,000 KRW as a special event at the pop-up. Despite being known as the largest and mos expensive Dubai chewy cake released so far, it is reportedly sold out and nearly impossible to buy.
1. [+257][-6] This too shall pass…
2. [+160][-6] You guys saw what happened with Tanghulu, right???ㅋㅋㅋ
3. [+150][-7] It doesn't even taste good, guys ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Stop with the nonsenseㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
4. [+16][-1] People curse at Paris Baguette and Kyochon Chicken for being expensive, yet they wait in line before the store even opens for a piece of junk like that. Y'all are pigsㅋㅋ
5. [+16][-2] Just eat whatever. Stop making such a fuss.
