INDULGE YOURSELF
I tried supermarket pistachio treats inspired by Dubai chocolate – and prices start from just £2.20
Are these nutty treats worth your cash?
DUBAI chocolate is the sweet sensation that has taken the internet by storm.
It's racked up more than 120 million views on TikTok and sparked a craving for pistachios, even contributing to international nut shortages. Yes, really.
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The original Dubai chocolate bar was made by luxury confectionery brand, Fix Dessert Chocolatier, in the UAE.
The treat is a nod to the traditional Knafeh dessert, which is made with spun pastry dough, layered with cheese, soaked in a sweet, sugar-based syrup and finished with a sprinkling of pistachios.
The chocolate bars are filled with pistachio creme, crispy Kadayif and a hint of tahini.
But the trend has sparked demand for all sorts of pistachio treats, including an M&S 'The Big Daddy Pistachio' bar, which also went viral.
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Are these nutty treats worth your cash? LYNSEY HOPE investigates:
Lidl Deluxe Milk Chocolate Pistachios
£2.99, in Lidl stores
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Lynsey says: "Small and incredibly more-ish. I opened the bag intending to try just one, but before I knew it, I'd scoffed a handful.
"These pistachios are small but tasty, with a delicious after taste, and they are generously coated in milk chocolate.
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"The chocolate itself had a lovely shine and a delicate, creamy flavour. There was just the right amount of crunch in every one and no Dubai chocolate price tag. Loved 'em."
Crosta and Mollica Pistachio and Almond Tartufi Gelato
£4,
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Lynsey says: "Delicious gelato truffle ice creams with pistachio gelato is in the centre.
"That is surrounded by a layer of creamy almond gelato, and the whole thing is rolled in a pistachio crumb which I couldn't get enough of.
"The ice cream was rich with a deep, delicious flavour and a lovely creamy texture.
"As a whole, I thought the pudding was a little dry but I served to some guests who couldn't get enough. Everyone was asking where I got them from."
Ritter Sport Pistachio
£2.20,
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Lynsey says: "Lovely chocolate flavour but the pieces of nut were too small. They could have been any nut and you couldn't easily tell they were pistachios.
"It's a smallish bar, 100g, so quite pricey especially when you consider you can get a 110g bar of Cadbury Dairy Milk Wholenut for just a £1."
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Hotel Chocolat Pistachio and Honey Chocolate Slab
£5.45,
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Lynsey says: "I worried the honey would be overpowering in this little chocolate bar, but the flavour combination works together perfectly. To call it a slab is a bit of a push, it is very small.
"That said it is well laden with pistachios which had a delicate flavour and a lovely crunch. I enjoyed it - I just wouldn't pay nearly £6 for it too often. It would make a pretty gift."
M&S The Big Daddy Pistachio
£8.50,
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Lynsey says: "This is one chunky bar, weighing in at 280g, so there is plenty to go around if you can get your hands on one.
"I thought I'd struggle to snap it in half but it broke easily, revealing the pistachio and white chocolate cream centre and a generous layer of thick caramel oozing from the inside.
"The caramel took centre stage, it was sticky and chewy with a lovely hint of vanilla. It did make the bar as a whole quite sickly, you only need a few bites.
"the pistachio cream is smooth and nutty with a hint of white chocolate. Scattered pistachio chunks add a pleasant, salty crunch and help balance the sweetness. It's intensely sugary - but I loved it."
Monty Bojangles Pistachio Marooned Cocoa Dusted Truffles
£8.69,
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Lynsey says: "Lovely truffles with a perfectly creamy texture and delicate taste.
"I loved the delightful crunch you got from the macaroon pieces scattered in them and the pistachio cream itself was soft and smooth with a perfect nutty flavour. Rich.
"You certainly don't many of them to get your pistachio fix."
Lindt Lindor Pistachio
£7.50,
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Lynsey says: "Melt in the mouth balls of pistachio deliciousness. I actually preferred these to the standard Lindor chocolates as they were less sickly. Smooth, indulgent with a delicate nutty taste.
"The filling was delicate and nutty, not too strong. A winning flavour."
Maison Colibri La Madeleine Pistache
£5,
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Lynsey says: "Love madeleines but it was the almond flavour that really came through here, not pistachio. In fact, there is only five per cent pistachio in the ingredients.
"The sponge was beautifully baked and delicate. Tasty but expensive and if its pistachios you're after - these might not be the treat for you."
Ombar Centres Pistachio
£3,
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Lynsey says: "A lovely, 60 per cent cocoa dark chocolate bar filled with a delicate and nutty pistachio cream centre.
"The flavour was quite intense, but in a good way, and this bar wasn't sickly sweet like many of the other options on offer.
"It's worth noting that this Fairtrade bar doesn't contain any refined sugar. It's also dairy and gluten free and suitable for vegans.
Waitrose No 1 Milk Chocolate with Hazelnut, Caramelised Cashew and Pistachio Nuts
£2.75,
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Lynsey says: "Not a ton of pistachios in this bar, they were lost amongst the hazelnuts and caramelised cashews.
"That didn't stop me enjoying it though. The milk chocolate was delicate and smooth and it was well laden with all the nuts, which I enjoyed. Not too sweet. This is a winning recipe."
Farhi Dubai Chocolate Truffles
£20,
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Lynsey says: "These truffles are designed to taste just like the viral Dubai chocolate - but in truffles instead of a bar.
"Encased in velvety chocolate, each truffle brings together the delicate flavours of traditional pistachio Knafeh, a beloved Middle Eastern dessert.
"The soft, melt-in-your-mouth centre is inspired by the sweet, aromatic essence of Knafeh, balanced with the nutty, slightly salty taste of roasted pistachios, all wrapped in a smooth chocolate shell.
"They are rich with a beautiful flavour and texture. Pricey, but a lovely gift for pistachio or Dubai chocolate lovers."
Hackney Gelato Pistachio
£5.75,
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Lynsey says: "Quite a subtle pistachio flavour but a lovely smooth and creamy texture. It isn't overly sweet and there's a hint of sea salt in every bite.
"It's not cheap, costing nearly £6 for a 420ml tub (which is no way enough!) But it taste like a quality product and it's quite a nice way of eating pistachios without having to shell them first."
How to save money on chocolate
We all love a bit of chocolate from now and then, but you don't have to break the bank buying your favourite bar.
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs...
Go own brand - if you're not too fussed about flavour and just want to supplant your chocolate cravings, you'll save by going for the supermarket's own brand bars.
Shop around - if you've spotted your favourite variety at the supermarket, make sure you check if it's cheaper elsewhere.
Websites like Trolley.co.uk let you compare prices on products across all the major chains to see if you're getting the best deal.
Look out for yellow stickers - supermarket staff put yellow, and sometimes orange and red, stickers on to products to show they've been reduced.
They usually do this if the product is coming to the end of its best-before date or the packaging is slightly damaged.
Buy bigger bars - most of the time, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the larger the bar.
So if you've got the appetite, and you were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger.