9 of the Best Pistachio Chocolates and Confectionery at Harrods

Words by Bridie Newman

Pistachio chocolate is having a moment. If you’ve spent any time on social media in the past year, it’s already on your radar. The recent surge in popularity can be traced back to one woman’s pregnancy craving. British-Egyptian Sarah Hamouda – now founder of Fix Dessert – dreamt of milk chocolate filled with sweet, gooey pistachio cream, a touch of tahini and the crunch of knafeh, a Middle Eastern dessert made with cheese, syrup and kataifi – fine, shredded filo pastry that crisps beautifully when baked. When she couldn’t find it, she made it. The result? ‘Dubai chocolate’ – and a viral obsession.

Now, nuts and chocolate have long been a classic pairing, and many brands have been making pistachio creations for years. But with a wave of new launches feeding the Dubai-style craving, one question remains: who makes the best pistachio chocolate? Read on for our buyers’ picks from The Chocolate Hall.

Harrods

Slabs, truffles, chocolate-coated nuts – we’re fully on board with the pistachio trend. If you like yours sweet, creamy and bite-sized, our pistachio truffles are a must-try. For a high nut-to-chocolate ratio, opt for our cocoa-dusted pistachios – a crunchy creation that transports you straight to a pistachio farm in harvest season.

And for a truly decadent treat, try our chefs’ pistachio slab from The Harrods Chocolaterie. A firm favourite since 2021, it blends blitzed whole pistachios with Sicilian pistachio paste, folded into white chocolate with crisp feuilletine (made from sweet crêpes that are baked golden and crushed into flakes), sandwiched between layers of rich 66% dark chocolate.

Godiva

Godiva’s Dubai-inspired chocolate is every bit as indulgent as you’d expect from the Belgian brand. Crafted in Turkey using naturally sweet Antep pistachios, it’s decadently creamy, richly flavoured and delicately studded with crisp kataifi.

For a fruity-meets-nutty contrast, try the brand’s new Dubai-style strawberry cup. Smooth Godiva chocolate is ladled over plump, juicy strawberries, then topped with crushed pistachio and kataifi for crunch. Find them both in The Chocolate Hall on the Ground Floor.

Charbonnel et Walker

Small-batch tradition meets modern flavour with Charbonnel et Walker’s limited-edition Dubai-style pistachio truffle. The British chocolatiers – who have been crafting irresistible confections since 1875 – blend a smooth pistachio centre with crumbled biscuit and a touch of sea salt, enrobed in milk chocolate and finished with a beautiful green flourish.

You’ll also find the original Charbonnel et Walker pistachio truffles – a lightly dusted iteration with a creamy white chocolate pistachio centre. Both make thoughtful gifts for chocolate lovers, though we wouldn’t blame you for keeping them all to yourself.

William Curley

From apricot and wasabi to pistachio and matcha, Scottish chocolatier William Curley is known for his innovative flavour combinations – and he too has turned his attention to the Dubai chocolate trend. His pistachio rochers are crisp clusters of roasted pistachio praline, ultra-creamy Noalya white chocolate, feuilletine wafer and kataifi pastry – seasoned with sea salt, then coated in either 41% milk or 70% dark chocolate.

The pure, refined flavours come from the chocolatier’s commitment to quality: no additives, preservatives or artificial flavourings and colours. Every piece is handmade by a small team of chefs in their London kitchen, where rich fillings are spooned onto trays, left to setset, then coated in chocolate. Chef’s kiss, indeed.

Pierre Marcolini

Ask any serious chocolate buff and they’ll likely rave about Pierre Marcolini. The Belgian chocolatier is known for his bean-to-bar approach, sourcing rare cocoa beans and creating the finest artisanal chocolates. The Pistachio Petit Bonheur is no exception.

A limited-edition recipe, the pistachio praline is delicately infused with black sesame and kinako (roasted soybean flour). This is combined with crisp kataifi, Quimper biscuits (traditional Breton shortbread) and crushed pistachios, wrapped in a thin layer of white chocolate for the perfect balance of sweetness, saltiness and crunch. Adopt the French ritual of ‘le gouter’ – an afternoon snack to bridge the gap between lunch and dinner – and savour them slowly with a cup of tea.

Läderach

If you’re looking for a perfectly blended slab to satisfy that Dubai-style chocolate craving, look to Swiss experts Läderach. Their FrischSchoggi (meaning fresh chocolate) Dubai earns high praise for its well-balanced, authentic flavour.

It combines milk or dark chocolate with an extra-creamy pistachio filling blended with crispy baked kataifi threads, roasted pistachio pieces and almond Gianduja for an incredibly nutty hit in every bite. A hint of salt cuts through the sweetness, while the thin chocolate shell delivers that all-important snap. A dangerously moreish bar to be left alone with.

Qinwan

Qinwan brings the finest dates to The Chocolate Hall, and now the brand has applied its artisanal expertise to chocolate for the deep-filled pistachio kunafa chocolate. Sure to captivate food influencers, it has all the hallmarks of a strong Dubai-style bar: silky milk chocolate, velvety pistachio crème and crispy kataifi. Shaped in a London skyline, it makes an excellent chocolate gift to mark your visit to the city.

Prefer your pistachio in a Medjool date? Try Qinwan’s new pistachio kunafa date filled with pistachio cream, wrapped in kataifi pastry strands for a delicate crunch, dipped in smooth milk chocolate and sprinkled with finely crushed pistachio. Fill a box, fresh from the counter, in-store.

Ladurée

It’s not just the chocolate world embracing Dubai-style flavours. The trend has made its way into bakeries and patisseries across the capital. And when it comes to macarons, it has to be Ladurée.

Sink your teeth into two almond and pistachio macaron shells to discover a silky pistachio buttercream centre. You’ll also find a deep-filled pistachio biscuit layered with pistachio cream and praline, pistachio macaron and crushed pistachios, finished with a pistachio glaze and crushed pistachios. Build a box filled with your favourite flavours in The Chocolate Hall.

Venchi 1878

Trust Italian chocolatiers Venchi 1878 to bring you authentic pistachio flavour. Its pistachio chocoviar chocolates are made with Piedmont hazelnuts, whole pistachios and 75% extra dark chocolate, with toffee crumbs and South American cocoa nibs for a satisfying interplay of textures. The brand describes it as a surprising and extravagant tribute to the green gold of the Mediterranean.

For a sweeter pistachio sensation, try the White Chocolate and Nuts Maxi Nocciole Bar, a recipe that combines salted hazelnut, almonds and pistachios with dried fruit and velvety white chocolate.