Why are we going nuts for pistachios?

You only need to check out the hiked online searches, external or pistachio-inspired product ranges in your local supermarket to see that this shelled nut is enjoying serious trend status.

So what's the story?

Back in December 2023, a TikTok user shared a video of herself eating a chocolate bar she bought in Dubai. It was filled with a vibrant green pistachio cream and shredded pastry. The video quickly took off and has racked up millions of views.

Nicknamed 'Dubai chocolate,' the bars became 2025's 'it' snack, with hundreds of thousands of social media posts sporting the hashtag #Dubaichocolate. Now, in addition to the many different brands of Dubai-inspired chocolate bars, there's a desire for pistachio creams, pastes, pastries and ice cream.

Emilie Wolfman, trend innovation manager at Waitrose, said the supermarket has seen a massive increase in consumers wanting pistachio products since the social media trend started.

Searches for 'pistachio' on Waitrose.com jumped by a whopping 788% in spring 2025, compared to the same time the year before.

"Pistachio offers luxury appeal," she says. "It's a versatile ingredient, integrating into a wide range of foods from decadent chocolate to savoury pastries and even sauces, which is driving its popularity."

James Conder, snacks and nuts buyer for Ocado, agreed, saying searches were "skyrocketing," up 203% year-on-year.

"Looking deeper into the data," he said, "the biggest sales increase within the nut category has been for no shell varieties (+129%), which are ideal for use in cooking and baking.

"Sales of confectionery products featuring pistachio are also up 93% in the last year and site searches for 'pistachio butter' (+82%), 'pistachio cream' (+679%), 'pistachio paste' (+99%) and 'pistachio spread' (+596%) all up considerably versus last year."

Pistachios aren't the cheapest nut in the snack aisle – at least partly because they are often quite costly to produce, external.

This cost then filters down into pistachio products. One of the most common bars of Dubai chocolate by a large confectionery brand is retailing at £10 for 145g – and there are plenty of others which will set you back even more. Likewise, pistachio cream frequently costs over £10 a jar.

There are ways to save on pistachios, though. Buying in bulk tends to be cheaper per kilogram, and Middle Eastern or South Asian supermarkets may have better deals as they're so popular in those cuisines.

Recipe developer and author Sanjana Modha, external uses them for making her silky and moreish pistachio cream, but has a few tricks to keep costs down.

"In many cases, you can get away with bulking pistachios out with a less costly nut, such as almonds or cashews.

"I often use a combination of almonds and pistachios in my pistachio cream – it's delicious.

"Just use a nut that has a subtle flavour, as pistachios are quite mellow. Peanuts, pecans and hazelnuts have a much stronger flavour."

Modha's a huge fan of adding pistachios to sweet treats. One of her favourite recipes is pistachio and rose shortbread.

They're not just for desserts – these versatile nuts can cause a real stir in savoury dishes too.

"For crunch, I add them to biryani, couscous and salads. They also work particularly well alongside pomegranates, dates, tomatoes and white cheeses such as feta, mozzarella, halloumi and paneer," says Modha.

"Pistachios are also a wonderful base for pesto, salsa and fresh Indian chutneys."

Recipe developer Philippa Davis, external also has a few practical tips for cooking with pistachios.

"Like most nuts, they need to be stored carefully to keep them in the best condition. Cool, dark airtight containers are great, but I find the fridge or freezer works best if storing for a long time, as it slows down the oxidation of the oils.

"If sprinkling them over dishes, I usually give them a little roast first just to invigorate the oils and flavour. They're best chopped once roasted, if you're using them this way."

Davis went all-out with the pistachios in her show-stopping courgette and lime cake – it has three pistachio elements.

It goes without saying that a chocolate bar filled with them isn't going to be the healthiest of snacks. But registered dietitian and BDA spokesperson Bini Suresh says this nut does come with health benefits.

"Pistachios are an excellent source of protein (about 6g per 30g), fibre (about 3g per 30g) and unsaturated fats, particularly monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. These nutrients are essential for heart health and maintaining overall wellbeing.

"Pistachios are also rich in antioxidants such as vitamin E, polyphenols and carotenoids, which protect against oxidative stress and support eye health.

"Studies have even shown, external pistachios can lower LDL cholesterol, improve lipid profiles and reduce blood pressure, all of which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

"That said, salted pistachios are often high in sodium, which can counteract some of the health benefits. A high-sodium diet is associated with increased blood pressure and cardiovascular risk."

So, to get the most health benefits from pistachios, choose unsalted.

Published May 2025. Updated March 2026.

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