Moroccan baker brings taste of Casablanca to Kut with traditional confectionary

KUT — A Moroccan woman has introduced the flavors of her homeland to central Iraq, opening a bakery in Kut that specializes in traditional North African sweets and has already attracted customers from beyond the city.

Abrar, originally from Casablanca, said she moved to Iraq with her Iraqi husband after living together in Turkey for eight years. “I am Abrar from Morocco, from the city of Casablanca. I was in Turkey and worked there until I married an Iraqi man, and we lived in Turkey for eight years,” she told 964media.

“I had visited Iraq several times and loved the people here, so we decided to return and live in Kut,” she added.

The idea to launch a bakery came from her guests’ reactions. “I used to serve Moroccan sweets to Iraqi guests in Turkey, and they really liked them,” she said. “So I thought about starting a business selling Moroccan sweets.”

The bakery, located in the Zahra area of Kut, has drawn customers from other provinces as well. “People loved the sweets I make,” she said. “My customers now go beyond the boundaries of Kut, as I have many from various cities in Iraq.”

Among her most popular offerings are chebakia, fekkas, and ghriba — staple Moroccan pastries known for their distinctive textures and spices. Abrar said she hopes to eventually build a brand name for her products.