Handicraft
Jewelry is a traditional part of Algerian heritage. Any occasion is good to wear bracelets, necklaces, earrings and belts(foum) in precious metals. Algiers, Tlemcen and Constantine were renowned for their production, but each region has its own traditional style, like a synthesis of artistic heritages. Kabyle jewelry, more specifically that of the Ath Yenni, is made of silver enhanced with colored enamel, a skill dating back to the 15th century, and coral. In the Aurès region, Chaouis jewelry is made of solid, hollow or openwork silver. Tuareg silver pieces are characterized by a beautiful simplicity of form, whose symbolism evokes the perpetual quest to master the natural elements.
Embroidery. Embroidery, tarz, is a popular urban art form in Algeria. In Algiers, embroiderers worked beautiful arabesques with Turkish, Arab or Andalusian influences, giving free rein to their imagination. In Constantine, dark velvet was embroidered with gold thread to create magnificent, sought-after and expensive garments. In Annaba, floral motifs resemble the Tunisian embroidery of Nabeul. Further south, in the Touggourt and M'Zab regions, designs are more geometric.
Leather. Leatherwork produces shoes, including multicolored "babouches" in the Gourara, boots, bags, belts, horse and camel saddles, containers, cushion covers, sword scabbards, boxes and more. Tlemcen's crafts are renowned for their Andalusian traditions, while those of the Hoggar express themselves in the manufacture of fringed travel bags, sandals and large tent cushions.
Dinanderie. A legacy of the Ottoman Empire, dinanderie, or the art of working copper to make trays, teapots and other containers, dates back to the Middle Ages, but was almost stifled by industrial production. It's in Tlemcen that the tradition really endures. Constantine's pottery, taught from father to son in a specific district, is renowned for its sometimes gigantic trays with Ottoman-inspired motifs.
Pottery has benefited from all the historical and ethnic influences that have bathed Algeria. Guelma (east), M'Sirda (Moroccan border) and Aït Khlili (Kabylia) are regions of Algeria renowned for the quality of their clay deposits. You'll find containers, stoves(kanoun), ashtrays and more.
In Grande Kabylie (Mâatkas, Bourouh or Ath Kheir), red pottery is decorated with motifs drawn from rural symbolism. In Petite Kabylie, less red is used, but the motifs are very similar to those of Grande Kabylie. In Constantinois, Guelma pottery is made from kaolin mined nearby. Pottery from the Aurès region appears rougher, while that from the Nememcha mountains is modelled in pinkish clays and decorated with unglazed brown designs. West of Algiers, in Tipaza, pottery takes on a marine allure with Roman-inspired shapes. In the south, pottery from the Adrar region is the most original: black in color and often with unusual shapes.
Carpets. Originally passed down from generation to generation, the art of weaving is one of the best illustrations of the craft and artistic creativity of each region, as well as of the cultural mixes (Berber, Arab-Muslim, African and Oriental) that have made up the country. Berber motifs are geometric and simple enough to appeal for a long time. Carpets from eastern Algeria, whether from the Aurès or the Nememcha, can be recognized by their Berber-Oriental motifs. In Petite Kabylie, Maâdid carpets from the M'Sila region, Bordj Bou Arreridj or Sétif and Bejaïa (Ghuergour) have even stronger Berber and Oriental influences. In Grande Kabylie, the finest carpets are those from the Tizi-Ouzou region (Aït Hichem), with fine, discreet motifs dominated by popular, rural imagery. Further west, the carpets of Kalaâ de Béni Rached (Oranie), with their soft, varied tones, are renowned for their beauty. The carpets of Jebel Amour are characterized by a certain austerity, yet not lacking in originality. South of the Saharan Atlas, the weavings of Oued Souf, which sometimes resemble the carpets of nearby Nememcha, and those of M'Zab (Béni-Isguen), with their black backgrounds, are particularly attractive. Finally, even further south, the dokkali of Timimoun are adorned with ancient Zenet motifs on an off-white background.
Basketry. A very ancient art form, traces of which have been found in Mesopotamia and Egypt, basketry is still widespread in Algeria. High-altitude esparto, raffia and black palm are used to make mats, baskets, baskets, baskets, dishes and even chairs. A special southeastern technique makes wickerwork waterproof.
Glass. The Turkish influence is perceptible in the workmanship of glass. Of Turkish, Arab or Andalusian origin, glasswork takes many forms, from blown glass (lamps, tea glasses, perfume flasks or candy dishes) to hammered glass (windows and stained glass).
Gastronomy
Patisserie is very popular, especially during Ramadan, when it's practically the only thing you'll find in the shops, especially as every region, and even every town, has its own delicious specialties made from semolina or flour, dominated by honey, orange blossom and almonds, dates or peanuts.
Wine. Probably brought to Algeria by the Phoenicians, vines were cultivated early on for table and wine-making purposes, notably by the Romans, but it was only with French colonization, which introduced new grape varieties from southern France and Spain and new winemaking methods, that production was able to reach the quality it is still recognized for today. After independence, winegrowing continued, but consumption, hitherto limited to Europeans, and a policy of reconversion, which aimed to restrict vineyards to hillsides and mountains in favor of quality production, led to the uprooting of thousands of hectares of vines, mainly in the Mitidja. In recent years, the production of organic wines has opened up new markets.
