Tunisian Drinks

If you’re on a Tunisia holiday, chances are you’re going to need more than a few drinks in the simmering Mediterranean climate. This means you may well get a bit bored of water and beer (or at least water), so there’s never been a better time to soak up some of the tasty and traditional Tunisian beverages as well as the sun.

Tunisian Wine

Tunisia is known for its wine production and with good reason, as the Tunisians have been producing wine since the time of the Roman Empire. There are around 20 wineries in this country, although the widely acclaimed queen of Tunisian wines is the Selian wine. There are many variations of Selian; if you’d like a deep and smoky red, try the Selian Reserve. For a spicy and intense experience, the Selian Carignan Calatrasi will make sure you’re drinking an exotic and also well structured wine. For a more fruity and woody scent, try the Selian Calatrasi Carignan Mornag. They’re all made entirely from Carignan grapes which are grown in Grombalia, a small town not far from the capital Tunis. Other popular red wines are the Vieux Magon and the Chateau St Augustin, popular white wines are the Ugni Blanc and the white Chateau St Augustin.

Mint Tea

Something else you won’t find in most of Europe is the mint tea which originates from the Arabic countries. It’s designed to be extremely refreshing after a hot and heavy day in the Mediterranean and goes perfectly after or with dessert, especially because it’s already been sweetened. Tea in general is inseparable from the Tunisian culture, and you’ll often find Tunisians brewing strong pots of tea over charcoal fires wherever you are. Sometimes, instead of stirring sugar into the tea, the Tunisians bite on chunks of sugar and then strain the tea through this sugar, which is a technique that must be tried if you like your tea sweet. In some regions the tea is served with pine nuts which are sprinkled over the surface. Coffee is brewed samovar style (as in Turkey), where the coffee is brewed with the coffee grains in the water, and are also poured into the individual cups when served, which means you’ll have to sip the coffee carefully if you want to avoid getting a mouthful of coffee dregs. Sometimes the coffee is flavoured with the spice cardamom.

Fresh Fruit Juices

As you’re unlikely to go straight for one of the above drinks during a simmering summer day on your Tunisia holidays, the most popular drinks available in Tunisia which also require special mention are the freshly squeezed fruit juices. As the fruits which make up these juices are grown in this country, the flavour of the juice is far more full-bodied and distinctive than that bought in many European supermarkets. The most popular fruit juices consumed in the summer are orange and lemon juice, with grapefruit and carrot juice not far behind.

Boukha Brandy

One great replacement for beer is the Boukha brandy, which is a sweet fig-infused brandy. It’s difficult to find this drink outside of North Africa, so best drink as much as you can when in Tunisia, although make sure it’s not as fast as you can as this drink is 36% alcohol. For both these reasons, it also makes a great souvenir. It is said to be best drunk by itself and at room temperature, but if this sounds too strong for you, it mixes well with apple, pear and other non-citrus fruit juices. If you fancy splashing out a bit, you can also get this drink in a ‘Boukha Gold’ version, for a better taste and purer drink (so less of a hangover).

Sarab Brandy

Another fantastic liqueur is a date brandy called Sarab and is available in Tunisian airports and in the pricier restaurants. Its 43% alcohol but its very drinkable for its strength, as the dates which it’s made from give it a powerful sweetness as well as giving it a distinctive date-like taste. It’s hard to come by, so if you come across it or buy it online, savour it and try it in a few cocktails.

These drinks range from easily affordable to quite expensive, so all budgets can afford a taste of the Tunisian culture which is hard to find elsewhere. All these drinks can be consumed with or without a meal, so there are plenty of opportunities to try out this extra-refreshing side of Tunisia.