North Idaho Confectionery launches Dubai chocolate bar

This bar (originally from Fix Dessert Chocolatier in Dubai) went viral on TikTok in December 2023. But with availability close to zero, multiple versions have popped up around the world. The crunch of the toasted kaitifi/knafeh (crushed puff pastry) with the nutty flavors of the pistachio paste and tahini (sesame) blend beautifully with the milk chocolate shell.

Pamela Robinson, founder and head pastry chef, says: “After being asked to make this bar locally because the original was unavailable from the UAE, we tested as many as we could get our hands on. These ranged from oily and bitter to sweet and boring. But after tasting several from the Middle East, we found a strong commonality between the harmonious flavor profiles that hit just right, and that was our plan to produce our own.”

Pamela’s husband, Todd Robinson, who runs the business, explains further: “Since we already make award-winning layered Belgian chocolates, it made sense to stick with Belgium’s best couverture quality milk chocolate for the coating.” The excellent melt and mouthfeel of couverture “Milk chocolate and the fact that it is not as overwhelmingly ‘chocolaty’ as most American chocolates was the perfect container for Dubai Chocolate Bar’s creamy filling.”

This bar is produced in a limited edition, small batch format, with each bar carefully crafted by hand and available in a plain case or in a gift box with a fixed hinged viewing window. Prices start at $49 for this oversized 16-ounce bar, putting the price per ounce roughly in line with the original bar that sparked the worldwide hype.

Robinson Confections, LLC is an international award-winning premium confectionery factory founded in 2019 by Pamela Robinson. She had always dreamed of turning her baking talent into a business, but it wasn’t until she met and married Todd (an entrepreneur) that her dream became a reality. They started with soft peanut brittle (a Pacific Northwest favorite) and then launched their own unique creations, including uniquely layered Belgian pralines, dark couverture pralines, and an original line of liqueur-based English toffees. More information: www.robinsonconfections.com