Introduction

Hello! It’s Mya Reyes and Brianna Molina. Have you ever wondered why Dubai Chocolate and Labubus are everywhere? In this article, we will give you all the facts and details about how they were made, who started the trends, and so much more.

Dubai Chocolate

The origin:

Dubai Chocolate first originated in 2021, by Sarah Hamouda, British- Egyptian entrepreneur and CEO of “Fix dessert Chocolatier”. It was first inspired by her pregnancy cravings but then became viral for its infamous looks and tastes from a creator on Tiktok named Maria Vehera, who reviewed the bar. It gained popularity and, after that, everyone wanted to try it.

What is Dubai Chocolate?

Dubai Chocolate is a thick, brick-like chocolate bar filled with pistachio cream with a mix of Kataifi, which is shredded sweet dough. It is known for its rich chocolate and the creamy, crunchy, pistachio cream. It comes in different sizes and many have been adding fruit to it or making combinations with the chocolate bar. A new craze people have been loving as well is a strawberry Dubai Chocolate cup: strawberries in a cup with melted chocolate and pistachio mixture. Overall, it’s a sweet treat that many people love.

How is it made?

Dubai Chocolate can be made by melting chocolate for roughly five minutes in the microwave. Then, you put some butter or oil in a pan and add Kataifi, which is a dough, and cook until golden brown. After that, you add Kataifi in a bowl and mix pistachio cream into the Kataifi. Mix until everything is covered in pistachio. Next, using a mold of your choice, add a layer of melted chocolate then set it in the fridge for 5 minutes. Add the mixture of the pistachio that had been previously made, and, afterwards, add the rest of the chocolate on top and set in the fridge again for ten minutes. Finally, enjoy your sweet treat.

Facts about Dubai Chocolate

• Dubai Chocolate bars range from $30 to $50 
• They are from 520 to 560 calories on average 
• The serving size is about 25g

How did it become viral?

Dubai Chocolate became viral from different types of influencers but mostly from ASMR videos on Tiktok. For example, in 2023, Maria (who goes by Mariavehera on her socials), a well-liked influencer on TikTok for her eating videos, made the chocolate bar look even more appealing and enjoyable. Other people started to make their own chocolate bars and even sell them from the official website, causing the prices to spike even higher than they were originally. This sparked all over the media and even made it to the news because people were obsessed with the chocolate bars.

Conclusion

Dubai Chocolate has become a viral sensation. Its satisfying crunch and appealing appearance helped surge its demand and numerous imitation products. Nevertheless, this trend has also sparked concerns regarding regime propaganda, the cultural appropriation of the dessert’s origins, and potential issues related to product quality and safety in an inadequately regulated market. 

Labubu

The origin:

Labubus originated from a Nordic-inspired children’s book called The Monsters, created by a Hong Kong artist named Kasing Lung in 2015. Lung was inspired by his childhood experiences, quickly falling in love with Nordic fairy tales after moving to the Netherlands at the age of 7. In 2019, Chinese toy company Pop Mart collaborated and transformed the Labubu characters into collectable toys.

What are Labubus?

Labubus are a line of collectable plushies. They come in a range of sizes, from small key chains to big 4 foot figures, costing hundreds of dollars. They are furry, elf-like, monster figures with large eyes and mischievous looks. Despite their intimidating appearances, Labubus are depicted as kind-hearted characters with good intentions, though they may lead to chaotic situations. Labubus come in many different colors, and they each represent a different character with their own name. Prices for Labubus are $20 and up, depending on the one you want. However, since the increase in popularity, Labubus are harder to purchase now. With more people wondering what the hype is about, many resellers sell these products for more money, some costing more than $1,000.

How did Labubus become viral?

Labubus went viral largely due to K-pop star, Lisa. Lisa is a singer, dancer, and actress. She is most known from the famous K-pop group, BLACKPINK. In April 2024, Lisa posted her first appearance with the toy on Instagram, showing it off. This sparked celebrities and influencers, and a social media trend began, fueled by Pop Mart’s blind box figures and unboxing videos. All audiences, from little kids to general adults, wanted the experience of the Labubu. They became a hit and generated millions of fans globally. Alongside massive sales growth were massive queues at Pop Mart stores with thousands of people lining up for hours before dawn for them. This, surprisingly, became typical for many of their launches.

What are Lafufus?           

Ever since Labubu popularity sparked, many people tried to get their hands on one. As soon as they did, some people were surprised with Lafufus. Lufufus are often dangerous knockoffs of Pop Mart’s Labubu dolls. They are cheaper, the quality of them are not as high, and they are made with hazardous chemicals. Many people have been scammed, causing conflict around the internet. Lafufus, for the past few months, have gained attention due to people’s disappointment in them, so now there are many ways to check if your plush doll is real. Before buying a Labubu, check its brand name, authenticity stamps, QR codes, and teeth count.

Conclusion

Will Labubus stay popular?

Overall, people from all over the world admire Labubus, but will the Labubu hype be here to stay? Recently, the resale market for Labubu dolls has dropped significantly, leading to losses for some collectors who bought them as investments. The resale value of the latest Labubu series fell by about 14% shortly after its late August 2025 release, and Pop Mart founder Wang Ning’s net worth fell by nearly $6 billion in less than a month. As for Pop Mart’s future, they plan to continue to sell Labubus and might even explore other ways to bring their popularity back.

Labubu sources:

• Kim, J. (2025, June 18). “Labubu” is a plush toy that is causing a frenzy. here’s its origin story. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/06/18/g-s1-72939/what-is-labubu-pop-mart-explained 
• Shigo, A. (2025, September 24). What are Labubu Dolls? All About the Viral Plush Creatures. Today Show. Retrieved September 24, 2025, from https://www.today.com/shop/what-are-labubus-rcna208265
• Wang, Y. (2025, September 15). Pop Mart Founder Wang Ning’s Net Worth Drops $6 Billion As Labubu Demand Cools. Forbes. Retrieved September 24, 2025, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/ywang/2025/09/15/pop-mart-founder-wang-nings-net-worth-drops-6-billion-as-labubu-demand-cools/ 
• Roy, J. (2025, June 27). What Is a Lafufu? Fake Labubus Find Some Fans Online. The New York Times. Retrieved September 25, 2025, from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/27/style/labubus-fake-lafufus-pop-mart.html

Dubai Chocolate sources:

• Soumya, Gayatri. (2025, May 4). How dubai chocolate conquered the world. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250502-how-dubai-chocolate-conquered-the-world
• Rebecca Cairns. (2024, June 18). Meet the woman behind Dubai’s viral super-chunky chocolate bar. https://www.cnn.com/travel/dubai-viral-chocolate-bar-fix-hnk-spc

Bonny bakery. (Director). (2025 july 2). How To Make Dubai Chocolate Bar [Film]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5mp8STvQqM