• About Us
  • Readers Write
  • Our People
Carthage Magazine
  • Home
  • Things to Do
    • Leisure
  • Food & Drinks
    • Taste Tunisia
  • People
    • Interviews
    • No Sugarcoating
    • Environment
  • Style & Travel
    • Attractions
    • Trip Planning
      • Travel Information
      • Hotels in Tunisia
      • Cost of Living
      • Tunisia’s Language
      • Tunisia’s Weather
      • Tunisia’s Currency
      • Tunisia’s Visa
    • Transport in Tunisia
      • Traveling Around
      • Local Transport
      • Flights to Tunisia
      • Ferries to Tunisia
      • Tunisia Overland
  • Local History
    • Museums
    • Monuments
    • Heritage Sites
    • Historical Figures
  • Education
  • Tech & Startups
  • Editors’ Picks
Editors' PicksFood & DrinksPeople

10 Things to Know If Invited for a Tunisian Iftar6 min read

By Hind Houas April 20, 2020
Written by Hind Houas April 20, 2020
Iftar in Tunisia

Hello dear readers,

I hope you found the previous article about Ramadan intriguing and interesting. I decided to write a follow-up post after I remembered that some of my friends have previously asked me about the ethics of “Ramadaning” including what to do or what not to do when invited to an Iftar with a Tunisian family!

#1. Prepare Yourself to Eat a Lot of Food

Tunisian Iftar

Ramadan is about fasting during the day and eating tons of food during the Iftar. The amount of food is insane, and the amount of food waste is also absurd.

#2. Communicate your Preferences when it Comes to Food

Tunisian food

Make sure you let the host family know if you have any preferences when it comes to how spicy you like your food to be.

If you can’t tolerate spicy food, you might want to flag that to them in advance. As Tunisians we love our Harissa spices and not everyone can tolerate that.

Suggested Read: Top 10 Foods to Eat in Tunisia

#3. Make Sure you Show Up on Time

Iftar in Tunisia

The specific time for breaking the fast is set and the last few minutes prior to the call for prayer are usually the hardest. So being late is considered being culturally inappropriate so make sure you are on time.

#4. Brace Yourself to a Minimum Meal of 4 Courses

Tunisian Salada and Brik

There will be Tunisian soups, salads, the famous briks, main course and a variety of Ramadan related desserts that I will write about in an upcoming blog post.

My only recommendation would be to encourage you to portion your intake. You don’t want to eat too much of one dish and end up being rude by not trying anything from the rest of the dishes.

Suggested Read: For the Love of Tuna?

#5. Make Sure you Emphasize how Tasty the Food Is

Iftar in Tunisia

The person who is hosting you is probably fasting when he or she cooked the meals and invited you so make sure you complement them and emphasize how tasty the food is. I know this is basic human niceties but it doesn’t harm to remind y’all of how important this is.

In case you hated the food you still need to be kind and just pretend it is tasty (go home and order pizza).

#6. Bring a Sweet Treat or Healthy Dessert

Tunisian Fruits

Bring a sweet treat or healthy dessert (mainly fruits or baked goodies tons of options to pick from. Don’t show up empty handed. That’s not the nicest thing to do and don’t bring a bottle of wine.

Even if your friend drinks, Tunisians are weird, and they might fast and won’t really appreciate being given wine.

#7. Offer Helping with the Dish-Cleaning Once the Meal is Over

Offer Helping with the Dish-Cleaning

But be ready to be told no. It is known in the Tunisian culture that guests should not clean the dishes after being invited for a meal!

#8. Ramadan TV shows

Ramadan TV shows

Some Tunisians love Ramadan TV shows so they might want to watch them while eating. Be patient with that. I hate (I know, I know hate is a strong word but I mean it) those stupid shows.

They mean nothing to me because I have never owned a TV but some Tunisians love Ramadan soap operas.

#9. You’ll Get Invited for a Second Iftar

Tunisian Brik

Tunisians will most likely tell you to come for an iftar again for a second time. But they won’t necessarily mean it! So think about whether you will join then again or not!

Remember, inviting people over for Ramadan can be costly especially if the hosts are not well-off Tunisians.

#10. Make Sure you Let the Host Know your Plan

Ramadan

Ramadan is the holy month where people really like to stay up late (sometimes super late until sunrise) so plan to stay up late if invited.

If you need to leave by a certain time, make sure you let the host know in advance because there might be a second round of food and dessert.


If you would like to comment on this article or anything else you have seen on Carthage Magazine, leave a comment below or head over to our Facebook page. You may also message us via this page.

And if you liked this article, sign up for the monthly features newsletter. A handpicked selection of stories from Carthage Magazine, delivered to your inbox.


Support Carthage Magazine
0 comment
5
FacebookTwitterEmail
Hind Houas

Star Wars geek from planet Tataouine (No Kidding, Hind's hometown is the city of Tataouine in Tunisia), a daughter, a sister, and a friend. Hind is a very passionate person(you will see more of that in her blogs posts about some of the most random things in life! So brace yourselves.).Hind loves traveling, good coffee and any type of cheese!

previous post
9 Things to Know about Ramadan in Tunisia
next post
Ten Things I learned from Living Alone in Tunis

Related Articles

Ons Jabeur Becomes the Highest Ranked African &...

June 28, 2022

Ons Jabeur Rises to New Career-High No. 3...

June 20, 2022

Tales from the Past | Part II

June 17, 2022

Tunisian Swimmer Nejib Belhedi To Swim 155 KM...

June 14, 2022

Boukha: Tunisia’s “Water of Life” Fig Liquor

June 14, 2022

Entrepreneurship in the Times of Pandemic: My Boutique...

June 10, 2022

Tales from the Past

June 7, 2022

Tens of Thousands of Jews Celebrate Unusual Coexistence...

May 16, 2022

Tunisian “Gâteau Courant d’Air” – A Household Sweet...

May 9, 2022

Jaafar Guesmi, Tunisia’s Pierre Cadault?!

April 30, 2022

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Flavors of Tunisia

Taste-Tunisia-Tunisian-Cuisine-3

Want more top stories?

Carthage Magazine Newsletter

Sign up today and you’ll get our latest stories delivered straight to your inbox.

Quizzes

Quiz: How Well Do You Know African Countries...

QUIZ: Think You’re a Know-It-All? Try Naming These...

Just For You

  • 1

    Tunisia COVID-19 Entry Requirements: Latest Updates for Travelers | June 2022

    March 2, 2021
  • 2

    DNA Analysis: Only 4% of Tunisians Are Arabs

    December 30, 2019
  • 3

    5 Things Tunisians Will Never Say Sorry For

    September 26, 2020
  • 4

    Ten Things I learned from Living Alone in Tunis

    April 21, 2020
  • 5

    Tunisian Swimmer Nejib Belhedi To Swim 155 KM from Italy to Tunisia

    June 14, 2022
  • 6

    Ons Jabeur Rises to New Career-High No. 3 After Winning Berlin

    June 20, 2022

Latest

  • Ons Jabeur Becomes the Highest Ranked African & Arab Tennis Player Ever

  • Ons Jabeur Rises to New Career-High No. 3 After Winning Berlin

  • Tales from the Past | Part II

  • Tunisian Swimmer Nejib Belhedi To Swim 155 KM from Italy to Tunisia

Sections

  • Editors' Picks
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Food & Drinks
  • Local History
  • News
  • No Sugarcoating
  • People
  • Quizzes
  • Real Estate
  • Style & Travel
  • Tech & Startups
  • Things to Do
  • Videos

E᙭ᑭᒪOᖇE

Carthage Magazine

We’re on a mission to create content that inspires people about experiences, places, products and people in Tunisia!

 

— About Us

— Adverstising

— Transparency

— Contact Us

Facebook Twitter Instagram Linkedin Youtube

ᗯᗩᑎT ᗰOᖇE TOᑭ ᔕTOᖇIEᔕ?

Carthage Magazine Newsletter

Sign up today and you’ll get our latest stories delivered straight to your inbox.

ᔕᑭᖇEᗩᗪ TᕼE ᗯOᖇᗪ

Spread the word

Our goal is to get these stories out in the public arena, and by doing this, keep promoting Tunisia and changing attitudes towards the MENA region.

 

— Ambassadors

— Readers Write

— What You Can Do to Help

EᗪITOᖇᔕ’ ᑭIᑕKᔕ

  • Tales from the Past | Part II

    June 17, 2022
  • Boukha: Tunisia’s “Water of Life” Fig Liquor

    June 14, 2022
  • Entrepreneurship in the Times of Pandemic: My Boutique Rides

    June 10, 2022

© 2019 - 2022 Carthage Magazine. Privacy Policy

Carthage Magazine
  • Home
  • Things to Do
    • Leisure
  • Food & Drinks
    • Taste Tunisia
  • People
    • Interviews
    • No Sugarcoating
    • Environment
  • Style & Travel
    • Attractions
    • Trip Planning
      • Travel Information
      • Hotels in Tunisia
      • Cost of Living
      • Tunisia’s Language
      • Tunisia’s Weather
      • Tunisia’s Currency
      • Tunisia’s Visa
    • Transport in Tunisia
      • Traveling Around
      • Local Transport
      • Flights to Tunisia
      • Ferries to Tunisia
      • Tunisia Overland
  • Local History
    • Museums
    • Monuments
    • Heritage Sites
    • Historical Figures
  • Education
  • Tech & Startups
  • Editors’ Picks
Carthage Magazine
  • Home
  • Things to Do
    • Leisure
  • Food & Drinks
    • Taste Tunisia
  • People
    • Interviews
    • No Sugarcoating
    • Environment
  • Style & Travel
    • Attractions
    • Trip Planning
      • Travel Information
      • Hotels in Tunisia
      • Cost of Living
      • Tunisia’s Language
      • Tunisia’s Weather
      • Tunisia’s Currency
      • Tunisia’s Visa
    • Transport in Tunisia
      • Traveling Around
      • Local Transport
      • Flights to Tunisia
      • Ferries to Tunisia
      • Tunisia Overland
  • Local History
    • Museums
    • Monuments
    • Heritage Sites
    • Historical Figures
  • Education
  • Tech & Startups
  • Editors’ Picks
© 2019 - 2022 Carthage Magazine. Privacy Policy

Read alsox

Onsomnia: Interview with Podcaster Ons HM

November 22, 2020

Tunisian Stuffed Peppers: “Felfel Mehchi”

January 16, 2021

Djerba Made it to the Mediterranean’s Top...

August 8, 2019