The craft well distributed throughout the Tunisian territory
Although a little cumbersome, pottery is a major craft in Tunisia. The potteries of Nabeul and Sejnane are renowned. Nabeul is, of course, the capital of Tunisian pottery. It is famous for its porous ceramics and yellow or green glazed tableware. You'll find it in all its forms in every souk in Tunisia. The Sejnane pottery, much less well known, is also remarkable. Berber, it is distinguished by its primitive appearance: geometric or figurative motifs, human or animal forms... It is less common in souks.
In the south, mainly in Gabès, Tozeur and Nabeul, the focus is on basketry. Baskets, bags, hats... a wide range of objects made from palm leaves, rushes and halfa.
Leather has a long history in Tunisia. Bags, wallets, purses, satchels, belts, babouches... the products are of the highest quality. They can be found at reasonable prices in all the souks, particularly in Djerba, Tunis and Kairouan.
Blown glass, in the Syrian, Egyptian or Venetian tradition, can be found in workshops in Nabeul, Hammamet, Tunis and Gammarth (Espace Sadika).
Wood is a much-used material, as are traditional furniture and musical instruments made in Aïn Draham and Kelibia. You'll probably admire them more than buy them, as they are bulky. Nevertheless, the wooden puppets, covered in colorful fabrics, are sold in practically every souk in Tunisia. Old, even antique, or sometimes far too new, these puppets represent the bey, warriors or everyday characters: the musician, the craftsman, the janissary... Filling the souks with their gaiety, color and mystery, they are the symbol of Tunisian craftsmanship.
A speciality of Tunis and Kairouan, enamelled, chiselled or engravedcopper is transformed into decorative objects and tableware.
Focus on the carpet
Carpet weaving was the traditional art of the Berbers. No other craft more perfectly expressed the possibilities and needs of their lives, especially those of nomads. The women wove carpets from the wool and hair of the herds the men herded. The dye came from plants and insects. Carpets woven in this way were perfectly suited to life in tents and on the ground. In sedentary communities, carpets were also used to cover consecrated areas, such as mausoleums or mosques. They testified to the wealth and taste of merchants and princes, and were the object of a lucrative trade with Europe. They are all different and characteristic of the region that produced them, but the most famous come from Kairouan. Although the folkloric aspect of these places may seem a little fake, you can always visit a workshop (or museum), which is usually just a store with a selection large enough to compete for the title. While sipping a glass of mint tea, you can contemplate the finest specimens of zarbia, alloucha (pure lamb's wool with knotted stitches) or mergoum, a short-pile woven carpet with geometric decorations. Small kilims, also woven at more affordable prices, can be found just about everywhere, making them increasingly popular. As for the very finest Kairouanese carpets, they can fetch - even after haggling - sums approaching or even exceeding €1,500, depending on criteria relating to surface area, weaving density, i.e. the number of threads per square metre (160,000 to 250,000 for the finest, i.e. 400 to 500 per linear metre), and the complexity of the motifs.
In the south, carpets are more sober. You'll also find kilims and mergoums, very fine Berber knotted-stitch carpets, often with simple motifs, but of great nobility of design and color. Discover them in the villages of the Dahar, for example.
In the north, carpets are warmer, and the material is both functional and aesthetic. Gabès is famous for its carpets, whose designs are inspired by the woolen shawls worn by southern women on ceremonial days. The only thing these carpets have in common is black, midnight blue and red, the traditional colors. But beware of scams and forced purchases from fake museums! Before you buy, check with the Handicrafts Office, which has set up a quality-control system and publishes a carpet-buying guide.
The weaving of traditional clothing for everyday use
Weaving is a feminine activity carried out on archaic looms of Egyptian origin. Their introduction dates back to the Egyptian expedition of Meryey, son of Ded, king of the Libu, around 1225 B.C. These vertical or horizontal looms are used to weave woolen fabrics. The Berbers weave the bakhnoug (wedding shawl), the assaba (headband), the wazra (hooded burnous), the battania, the hemel (blankets), the kilim (carpet with wide black, blue and orange stripes). The esparto is also used to weave mats, baskets with handles and blassacs (bags attached to the backs of camels or donkeys for transporting goods).
Among women's traditional garments, the fouta, a long tunic worn over light embroidered pants, is sold in many boutiques. For men, the jebba, a garment with wide armholes, and the gandoura, a sleeveless, ankle-length tunic, can be worn with or without headgear such as a fez or turban. Today, only rural dwellers remain faithful to this dress tradition; in town, these garments are worn only for major ceremonies.
Gourmet pleasures
If you think of Tunisia and gastronomy, chances are you're thinking of pastries. Orange blossom, pistachio, almond, pine nut... Tunisian pastries are rich in flavor. Bring back with you some makroud, ghraïba, baklawa, chamia, mlabes... and you'll delight your friends' taste buds. It's much cheaper than in France, and it's made in Tunisia. This is also the land of Harissa, a strong condiment used to enhance the taste of couscous or sauces. Don't miss the Harissa Festival in Nabeul if you come during this period. Otherwise, you can easily find it at the market.
The country also produces almost 8% of the world's olive oil. Watch out for provenance and quality. Some wines and spirits will also delight your loved ones. Last but not least, Tunisia produces a wide variety of dates, including Kenta, Allig, Khuwat and the world-famous Deglet Nour from the Nefta oasis on the Algerian border. There's something for every taste. Sold on branches or in bulk, they can be found in most markets and even in airport stores and on the boat (but packaged).
Beauty products and cosmetics
Jasmine, amber, lemon, fell, lavender, musk... so many fragrances to prolong your journey through the senses. In the medina of Tunis, you'll find many perfumers, but it's important to distinguish between the real artisan perfumers, who work in the traditional way and still use distillation!
The machmoum, a bouquet of jasmine flowers on small tied stems, delicately placed on the ears of Tunisians, perfumed your stay with its bewitching scent. Since this bouquet is a fleeting souvenir, the Maison de Senteurs in the medina of Tunis has marketed a very pretty soap that lasts a little longer: the Mechmoum soap, on a ceramic soap dish that takes the shape and, of course, the fragrance of the famous bouquet.
Henna(Lawsonia inermis) is a plant that grows in hot, dry climates, mainly from Morocco to India, via Egypt, Syria, Iran and Pakistan. It can grow up to three meters high and produces small, fragrant flowers in white, pink or yellow, depending on the variety. The leaves, dried and reduced to a soft green powder, are used to dye hair, fingers, palms and soles. Red henna, black henna or neutral henna: if you buy some at the corner of a souk, check the color before applying it to your hair, to avoid any surprises..
Jewelry
Like everywhere else, Tunisian jewelry has its own particularity. Borrowing from both East and West, they are all different from one region to the next. In the north, they are of Turkish inspiration; in the Sahel region, of Syrian and Egyptian influence; in the west, they are less sophisticated and rather similar to Algerian jewelry; in the south, the enamelled jewelry, of Hispano-Moorish origin, is the work of Jewish or Muslim craftsmen driven out of Spain and taking refuge in Djerba. All this traditional jewelry, preferably in silver, is reminiscent of Punic symbols, with pearls, amber, turquoise and coral.
The Khamsa (or Fatma's hand) is very visible in Tunisia, particularly on jewelry. Gilded or fake, adorned with more or less kitsch decorations, it can also be found in silver, with its sobriety and magnificent simplicity, in old antique stores in Djerba or elsewhere. A beautiful gift. Available at all prices.
Corals and heathers of Tabarka
Coral, cork and heather are the natural riches of the Kroumirie coast. Numerous stores in Tabarka sell coral jewelry and cork objects. Anecdotally, the pipe-makers of Saint-Claude used to come to Tabarka to collect the briar they needed to make their famous pipes. In fact, Tabarka is home to a small pipe factory, much appreciated by pipe enthusiasts.
