Conquering the tastes of consumers around the world, pistachio is the new star of modern cuisine. Because of its versatility and its sophisticated flavor, pistachio’s distinctive taste made it a fan favorite. According to Chef Lars Vierhout, pastry chef and food content creator, it is the number one request in the culinary world, looking at the market right now.

Is pistachio just an ingredient?

This trend has not appeared out of nowhere, has it? Around a year ago, the Dubai chocolate bar was the turning point, sparking the rise of pistachio and leading to a shift in the way people perceive this flavor. ‘After this change, people started putting pistachio in everything. From the major retails to small pastry businesses, pistachio is what they want.’, based on Chef Lars’s professional experience. Even though it is an ingredient that many pastry chefs and gelato shops already used, considering how over the past few years, people have shown an increased interest in exotic tastes, pistachio perfectly fits the aesthetic everyone is looking for on social media. As stated by Chef Lars, social media is the factor that brought so much attention to it: ‘It just went viral.’

There is something specific about pistachio nuts that makes them more interesting than other flavors. Is it its raffinate taste, its deep green color or just the appeal of the aesthetics of the trend?

‘Pistachio’s popularity is all about the mix of its taste, color and versatility.’

Chef Lars

From refined cakes, delicious croissants and vibrant cruffins, to coffee syrups and even dose drinks, the pistachio has managed to establish itself adding an extra touch of elegance to the culinary world.

Pistachio determined a shift

This „trend” has had an impact not only on cultural dynamics, but also on financial outcomes. This shift is influencing culture by redefining culinary preferences and tastes, as well as the way customers perceive desserts as original experiences. As stated by Chef Lars, this trend has also spurred collaborations between pastry chefs and pistachio purveyors, generating advertising and marketing investments focused on promoting pistachio dishes, having a significant economic impact on the entire culinary ecosystem. Even though the attention is drawn towards desserts, nobody should ever forget this ingredient’s essence lies in its flexibility: it can be used very well in savory dishes, such as pasta and risotto.

Like most culinary trends, the excitement and passion for pistachio will probably wane over time, especially if new star ingredients hit the market. However, because of the prominent shift it has produced around the world, mixing different cultures and making itself accessible to the international market, pistachio will remain on sweet lovers’ menus. So pistachio pastry products are not just a trend on TikTok, they are here to stay. According to Chef Lars, it will slow down a little because the hype at the moment is high, but pistachio has now become a statement in the pastry and culinary world. Why spend hundreds of euros on random products with no personality, when you can pay only five for a pistachio cruffin?