Dubai’s viral kunafa trend finds a sweet spot in Hyderabad

Latest kunafa craze in Hyderabad include kunafa chocolate bars, kunafa gelato, donut and dates

Pistachio kunafa stuffed inside chocolate bars is taking over the chocolate world, and Zuci Chocolate has jumped on the trend, with their bars flying off the shelves.

Started in Hyderabad by Aparna Gorepati, she says, “Not everyone can go to Dubai or source it from there, so we decided to make them here in Hyderabad. People are always curious about viral foods, so we brought kunafa chocolate to the city. Our version contains pistachio paste with kataifi (phyllo dough threads). Getting the ratio right is crucial — too much, and the texture turns overly sweet and lumpy.”

For now, Zuci offers just one flavour but is experimenting with a chocolate hazelnut kunafa bar.

To mark the Ramzan season, they have also launched kunafa dates — Medjool dates stuffed with flavoured kunafa — and a kunafa dessert bowl. But could local semiya (vermicelli) be a substitute for kataifi? “No, it would turn soggy. Local semiya is naturally soft and won’t stay crisp when combined with pistachio paste, which is made by blanching pistachios with sugar,” Aparna clarifies.

When Xocolatl first introduced kunafa chocolates to Hyderabad in December 2024, chocolatier Ashmeet Singh Dua set out to prove that the city could match Dubai’s dessert innovations. From kunafa chocolates, he quickly moved to kunafa cakes — a rich chocolate cake layered with kunafa between chocolate sponges. Served with a jar of chocolate ganache to be poured over before cutting, Ashmeet believes in the philosophy that “no amount of chocolate is too much.” He adds, “Kunafa cake is a fun addition. Chocolate lovers can’t resist this one.” Chocolate kunafa cake is also available at Foodstories in Hyderabad.

But why stop at chocolates and cakes? Ci Gusta has taken the kunafa trend further with kunafa gelato and cheesecake. Their kunafa cheesecake-style gelato promises a crunchy bite in every spoonful.

Mad Over Donuts has also drawn inspiration from Dubai’s viral chocolate trend, introducing a kunafa chocolate doughnut. It features a silky chocolate glaze with a decadent pistachio kunafa paste filling, finished with a generous topping of pistachio flakes for maximum crunch.