Tunisian Art and Culture

Since ancient times, artistic techniques based on the work of stone, wool, iron, clay and glass have survived, enriching the Art of North Africa. It is transmitted from generation to generation or in courses in artisan centres, whose raw material goldsmiths will never cease to surprise us.

Tunisian crafts

Berber ceramics. Berber ceramics have been made by hand without a wheel since the beginning of the Christian era. The pieces (plates, vases, tureens, animal figurines) are modelled using a clay paste and then dried in the open air before being placed in the oven. Once the cooking is finished, the objects are decorated with geometric drawings of brown and black dyes reminiscent of Tunisian land’s colours.

Blown glass. The Art of blown glass was inherited from the Carthaginians, and it has acquired its character as a noble art by joining wrought iron. At the bottom of small workshops, glass blowers handle the molten paste with surprising agility. In a few minutes, they stretch, twist and inflate this veritable fireball to make it fit into a wrought iron frame. This way, translucent wall sconces and lamps are created with reflections that change colour after subjecting them to thorough polishing.

The carpets. The famous wool rugs made by hand stitch by stitch are one of the most coveted pieces of craftsmanship. In Kairouan, where numerous workshops are attached to the shops, it is possible to see women working. They make the motifs from memory, alternating coloured dots along a cotton weave. In this way, an operator produces numerous rugs but only two or three different models throughout her life. Regarding purchases, a badge from the National Crafts Office attests to the piece’s quality (1st or 2nd class).

The mosaics. Mosaic panels, which were fashionable 2,000 years ago, have been updated to today’s taste by lovers of antique-style decoration. At least 150,000 tesserae (or pieces of stone) per square meter are needed to make these fragmented marble compositions. First, these fragments are assembled and then glued together. Once the layer is dry, the whole is turned over, and the mosaic appears on its opposite side, similar to a cake just taken out of the mould.

Tunisian food and drink

Tunisians love spicy food, and it is almost impossible to find a dish that does not include harissa, a fiery chilli paste. Fresh produce abounds, and almost every meal includes salads. The most popular is the salade tunisienne, a mixture of tomato, onion and cucumber with tuna.

Typical Tunisian dishes

Couscous: One of the dishes found in practically all restaurants in Tunisia is couscous, cooked semolina that legumes, potatoes, meat or fish can accompany.

Brick: One of the simplest and most popular dishes in Tunisia is brick, a thin dough dumpling filled with egg that sometimes also includes tuna and is served fried.

Tajine: With a name that invites you to think of the typical Moroccan dish served in a clay container, Tunisian tagines are a type of omelette filled with vegetables, meat or cheese prepared in the oven.

Meloukhia: This traditional Tunisian stew is prepared with slow-cooked beef or lamb over a green sauce from Jewish mallow.

Chorba: A very spicy traditional soup that is served very hot and can be prepared with different ingredients.

Shakshuka: Simple and delicious dish prepared with eggs, tomato sauce, peppers, onion and spices.

Lablabi: One of the typical Tunisian dishes for lunch and breakfast, consisting of a chickpea stew with a poached egg and stale bread.

Harissa: The most popular condiment in Tunisia is a spicy red sauce prepared from chillies, garlic, coriander, and other spices. It is known as harissa.

Samsa: One delight of Tunisian pastries is samosas, crunchy brick dough triangles usually filled with almond paste.