Knafeh Chocolate — Joy Chocolate's Saudi Take on the Dubai Trend
If your feed has been full of someone snapping a thick chocolate bar in half to reveal a river of green pistachio and golden, crackling pastry, you have already met the Dubai chocolate trend. The phenomenon — a pistachio-and-knafeh-filled chocolate bar that went viral out of Dubai — turned a regional dessert tradition into a global craving almost overnight. At Joy Chocolate (جوي شوكولاتة), the obsession with pistachio and crisp knafeh is not new. We have worked with Belgian couverture in our Al Olaya kitchen since 2001, and the textures behind the trend — toasted nuts, shatteringly crisp kataifi strands, smooth tempered chocolate — are the same ones we have spent 25 years perfecting. So rather than chase a copy, we made our own Saudi version: the Pistachio Knafeh Bar and the Lotus Salted Caramel Knafeh Bar, both crafted and finished in Riyadh and delivered to your door.
What is the original Dubai knafeh chocolate made of?
The bar that started the Dubai chocolate trend pairs the comforting flavours of Middle Eastern knafeh with the snap of a moulded chocolate bar. Recipes vary from maker to maker, but the core elements are remarkably consistent.
- A chocolate shell — a moulded outer layer, usually milk or dark chocolate, that gives the bar its signature thickness and clean snap.
- Crispy knafeh (kataifi) strands — fine shredded pastry, toasted until golden and crunchy, the texture that makes each bite so satisfying.
- A pistachio filling — a rich, nutty pistachio cream or paste that carries the unmistakable green colour and flavour.
- Tahini — sesame paste that loosens the filling and adds a subtle, savoury depth that keeps the sweetness in balance.
It is a clever piece of dessert engineering: smooth chocolate, creamy pistachio, and the crackle of toasted pastry in a single bite. Those flavours are deeply familiar across Saudi Arabia, which is exactly why the trend felt less like a novelty here and more like a homecoming.
Joy Chocolate's Pistachio Knafeh Bar vs. the original Dubai bar
Our Pistachio Knafeh Bar respects the blueprint that made the trend so loved — and then leans on a quarter-century of chocolate craft to refine it. The architecture is the same one fans of the viral bar will recognise: a Belgian couverture chocolate shell, a generous layer of crispy knafeh strands, and a pistachio-and-tahini filling. The difference is in how we get there.
First, the chocolate. We work exclusively with Belgian couverture, tempered properly so the shell sets with a glossy finish and a crisp, clean break rather than a waxy bite. Its higher cocoa-butter content is what gives our bars their melt-in-the-mouth smoothness against the crunch of the pastry. Second, the knafeh: we toast the kataifi strands so they stay crisp inside the bar instead of softening into the filling. Third, the balance — the tahini in our pistachio filling rounds out the sweetness, so the bar tastes rich without becoming cloying.
The biggest difference, though, is provenance. The Dubai trend put pistachio knafeh chocolate on the map, but Joy Chocolate has hand-finished chocolate in Riyadh since 2001. When you snap into our Pistachio Knafeh Bar, you are tasting a trend interpreted by a Saudi chocolatier with 25 years of Belgian craft behind it — made here, for here.
Lotus Salted Caramel Knafeh Bar — a Saudi twist
Once you have nailed the knafeh-and-chocolate format, the fun part is reimagining what goes inside. Our Lotus Salted Caramel Knafeh Bar takes the same crisp Belgian shell and crackling knafeh strands and pairs them with two flavours that Saudi dessert lovers adore: Lotus Biscoff and salted caramel.
The result is a different personality altogether. Where the Pistachio Knafeh Bar is nutty and grounded, the Lotus version is warm and caramelised — the spiced, biscuity character of Lotus Biscoff folded into a flowing salted caramel that catches the toasted pastry. The salt is key: a measured pinch lifts the caramel and keeps the bar from tipping into pure sweetness. It is a recognisably local take, built for the way people here like to share dessert — generous, indulgent, and made to be passed around the table.
Both bars sit in the same family, so a mixed order is the easiest way to see which one your household reaches for first. In our experience, most people end up keeping both within reach.
Where to buy authentic knafeh chocolate in Riyadh
You can order both the Pistachio Knafeh Bar and the Lotus Salted Caramel Knafeh Bar directly from Joy Chocolate for delivery across Riyadh. Because the bars are made fresh in our Al Olaya kitchen, the knafeh stays crisp and the chocolate arrives in great condition.
- Delivery area: across Riyadh.
- Delivery time: typically 24–48 hours from your order.
- Free shipping: on orders over SAR 250.
- Questions or bulk orders: call us on +966 553 222 555.
Browse the full range on our knafeh collection or explore the wider chocolate bars line-up. Whether you want to try the trend that is everywhere right now or share a Saudi-made version with friends, Joy Chocolate brings authentic knafeh chocolate straight to your door in Riyadh.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Dubai chocolate trend?
The Dubai chocolate trend refers to the viral pistachio-knafeh-filled chocolate bar that was popularised in Dubai and spread worldwide on social media. It combines a chocolate shell with crispy knafeh (kataifi) strands and a pistachio filling. Joy Chocolate makes its own Saudi version, crafted in Riyadh.
What is knafeh chocolate made of?
Knafeh chocolate is typically made of a chocolate shell, crispy toasted knafeh (kataifi) pastry strands, a pistachio cream, and tahini. Joy Chocolate's Pistachio Knafeh Bar uses a Belgian couverture shell with crispy knafeh strands and a pistachio-and-tahini filling.
What flavours of knafeh chocolate does Joy Chocolate make?
Joy Chocolate makes two knafeh bars: the Pistachio Knafeh Bar (Belgian chocolate shell, crispy knafeh strands, pistachio and tahini) and the Lotus Salted Caramel Knafeh Bar (Belgian chocolate shell, crispy knafeh strands, Lotus Biscoff and salted caramel).
Can I get knafeh chocolate delivered in Riyadh?
Yes. Joy Chocolate delivers across Riyadh, usually within 24–48 hours, with free shipping on orders over SAR 250. You can order online or call +966 553 222 555 for help or bulk requests.
What makes Joy Chocolate's knafeh bars different?
Joy Chocolate has crafted Belgian couverture chocolate in Riyadh since 2001 — 25 years of experience. Our knafeh bars use properly tempered Belgian couverture for a clean snap and toasted knafeh strands that stay crisp, all made fresh in our Al Olaya kitchen for delivery across Riyadh.