• About Us
  • Readers Write
  • Our People
Carthage Magazine
  • Home
  • News
  • 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
    • Things to Do
      • Leisure
  • Local History
    • Museums
    • Monuments
    • Heritage Sites
    • Historical Figures
  • Education
  • Tech & Startups
  • Editors’ Picks
Editors' PicksEnvironmentFood & DrinksStyle & Travel

Fruits From Tunisia: 15 Tunisian Fruits to Eat When Traveling11 min read

By Contributing Editor August 20, 2023
Written by Contributing Editor August 20, 2023
Tunisian-Romen

Want to learn a thing or two about eating fruits in Tunisia? Right this way…

Typical Tunisian cuisine is centered around cured and slow-cooked meats in rich broths and spices. The ideal addition to the star of the show? Fresh Tunisian fruits and vegetables!

Tunisia’s climate is Mediterranean, mostly warm and dry. Its nutrient-rich soil means that the fruit trees of Tunisia are bountiful, often producing multiple harvests in one year.

What Tunisian Fruits are Most Commonly Eaten In Tunisia?

The most common fruits eaten in Tunisia are citrus, peaches, grapes, dates, and apples – however, there are so many more options when it comes to fruits from Tunisia!

If you want a more authentic experience, learning the names of fruits in Tunisian will help! Tunisian fruit names are often poetic and rhythmic in their pronunciation and helpful to know when ordering in smaller Tunisian towns and Governorates.

15 Tunisian Fruits To Eat When Traveling

It is important to learn that from cuisine to crops, Tunisia is a highly regionalized country.

What you find in Beja, you won’t necessarily find in Tozeur. This means it is highly recommended to eat what’s local, including fruit. Here’s our list of the 15 Tunisian fruits to try when visiting or traveling around Tunisia.

Prickly Pear – El Hindi

Prickly Pear - El Hindi Tunisia
Prickly Pear of Tunisia – El Hindi

Prickly pear, referred to in Tunisia as Hindi, the King of Fruits, is probably the most intimidating fruits from Tunisia. It is delicious – if you eat it right!

These fruits grow on cactus plants laden with fine, sharp needles that cover the surface of the fruit. Vendors wear thick gloves and use metal tongs to remove the needles, so you don’t have to do the hard work. Once peeled, these Tunisian fruits are, of course, needle-free and fleshy with tiny seeds.

In summer, look out for street vendor stands with the orange-green fruits so popular with locals. If you can get past the spikes, the flesh is rich and sweet, with a watermelon-like flavor that is oh-so-refreshing in the warmer months.

As long as you’ve peeled them properly, prickly pears are best eaten raw, fresh and chilled.

Figs – Karmous

Figs - Karmous
Fig of Tunisia – Karmous

Fig trees in Tunisia have two harvests per year. Each harvest yields different fruits based on the rain and weather. Bither, the first harvest of the year, is green on the outside with pale red flesh. Because of their almost sour taste, Bither are often soaked in syrup and spices before eating.

El Karmous are purple-black on the outside, with a soft, sweet flesh that is delicious when eating raw. You can find Karmous in grocery stores around the country, or for the best local experience, bought from a roadside vendor.

Dates – Tmar/Degla

Tunisian dates in small white bowl
Tunisian dates in small white bowl

Typically found in deserts and dry, relatively temperate climates, the date palm is an evergreen plant with roots that deeply penetrate the earth in search of humidity. Date palms grow in oases in desert areas with suitable water levels for irrigation.

In Tunisia, date production constitutes an essential part of the agricultural outputs of the country. The vast majority of dates are harvested from the palm trees located in the oasis of southern Tunisia, most specifically from Tozeur and Kebili.

The Tunisian Degla is a must for the pleasures of the mouth both in the holly month of Ramadan as well as the rest of the year. Very satiating, it ranks among the best in terms of dates quality, worldwide.

Suggested Read: A Date with Tunisia

Loquat – Boussaa

Loquat of Tunisia - Boussaa
Loquat of Tunisia – Boussaa

Related to pears and apples, the name for this fruit in Tunisian is Boussaa and has long been associated with good luck. First introduced from Southeast China, loquats arrived in Tunisia more than 2000 years ago and have been endemic ever since.

Loquats are sweet, and best enjoyed raw, fresh and chilled.

Apricots – Mechmech

Apricots - Mechmech Tunisia
Apricots – Mechmech

Apricot, called Mechmech in Tunisian, is a super tasty fruit with unique combination of sweetness and tanginess, packed with vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants. Apricots have plenty of benefits and they are extremely popular in Tunisia.

Peaches & Nectarine – El Khoukh

Peaches of Tunisia
Peaches of Tunisia

The peach in Tunisia, along with its variety the nectarine are fruits of origin from China. Today, it is a deep-rooted crop in the country. Peaches and Nectarines are grown mainly in the Northern East region along the Mediterranean coast.

There’s definitely nothing like sinking your teeth into a perfectly ripe, juicy peach on a hot summer day. It’s one of summer’s simplest pleasures, and it’s hard to beat for pure enjoyment.

Pomegranate – Romen

Tunisian Romen
Tunisian Romen

Along the shores of the Mediterranean, the pomegranate stands for prosperity and wisdom, love and fertility. To convey their passion, lovers would offer pomegranates to one another, and the seeds of the fruit, sown on the path of the newly wed, are harbingers of fertility.

Pomegranates have been cultivated in Tunisia for at least 5000 years. They were then introduced in Europe through Spain by the Arabs in the VIIIth century, and they became widely cultivated over there.

The Roman soldiers, who discovered the pomegranate for the first time during the Punic wars (third century BC), had never seen such fruit, and called it malum punicum (the apple of Carthage) or the Punic apple, or otherwise malum granatum for its abundant seeds.

The pomegranate is a wintertime fruit. The harvest season kicks off at the beginning of the fall season. For the early-maturing varieties, however, the season may start earlier and extend until mid-November for the late-maturing varieties.

Cherry – Hab Mlouk

Tunisian red cherries, Hab Mlouk
Tunisian red cherries, Hab Mlouk

Hab Mlouk are table cherries. These supreme quality red cherries have been grown in the northern-west of the country, more preciesly in Siliana, since they were brought there by the Romans.

These cherries are quite sweet, very flavorful, deep red in color and very crispy. These cherries are traditionally hand-picked at the moment of optimal ripeness to ensure fruit of superior quality.

Citrus – Kawares

Citrus of Tunisia
Citrus of Tunisia

Citrus fruits such as oranges, mandarins, and lemons are grown all across the country but more particularly in the North and Center. These regions are recognized worldwide for their century-long tradition of cultivation of citrus. Citruses grown in Tunisia have well-balanced acidity and sweetness due to warm Mediterranean climate.

The soil characteristics combined with the technical skills of Tunisian growers help produce more flavorful fruit with and intense color and fragrance.

Watermelon – Dela3

Watermelon - Dela3
Watermelon – Dela3

Watermelon is sweet, refreshing, and super delicious. It’s such a summer staple. The fruit itself it very rich as it contains many nutrients, is low in calories and is free of fat. One can eat all parts of the watermelon including the rind and seeds.

One of the things Tunisians love most about summers is opening a cooler full of sweet juicy watermelon on a hot day on the beach.

Melon – Batikh

Tunisian Melon
Tunisian Melon

Melon is estimated to be more than 10,000 years old. Melons were brought over to Tunisia by the Arabs and were extremely popular right from the start. Melons do have a pleasant, refreshing flavor. They contain about 90% water by weight.

Since they need a lot of heat, they’re always grown in countries with very hot, dry summers, like those in the Mediterranean, such as Tunisia, Spain, and Greece.

Grapes – Aneb

Grapes of Tunisia
Grapes of Tunisia

Grapes are delicious and packed with vitamins and minerals. One of the best things about grapes is that they protect us from sunburn, making them one of the prominent fruits in the list of summer fruits.

A lot of table grape varieties are found all across Tunisia.

Plum – El Aouina

Plum - El Aouina
One of the Tunisian plum varieties.

Tunisia has a little over 20 plum varieties, each with different flavors and peculiarities that the popular fruit brings with it. Anyone looking for plums will quickly notice that they are not only available in the usual purple variety, but also in red, black, blue and yellow.

Apple – Tofeh

Tunisian apple of Sbiba region.
Tunisian apple of Sbiba region.

When it comes to Apples, there are plenty of varieties in Tunisia. The region of Sbiba in the Southern-west if the country known to produce very fragrant and aromatic apple variety, with intense flavors reminiscing those of grass, vanilla, and ripe fruits.

The fruit is very juicy and crunchy. Every stage of the production is executed with the utmost care, thus ensuring a product of excellent quality and characteristics.

Persimmon – El Krima

El Krima
El Krima

Persimmons are grown in Tunisia are deep red and soft, with an over-sweet caramel flavor. The Tunisian variety of persimmon is popular for its lack of seeds and strong taste.

Tunisian locals enjoy El Krima fresh and chilled. It is usually sold in grocery stores in the Northern-west of the country. Get yours and enjoy it as a topping on salads or on its own for a delicious flavor experience!

So Many Tasty Fruits to Eat in Tunisia

This list of Tunisian fruits is only the beginning – you might find many more fruits that delight your taste buds on your journey.

Make sure to get as much of your fruit from Tunisia at markets and street vendors. These are often the freshest and best way to enjoy all of the produce that Tunisia has to offer.

FAQ’s – Tunisian Fruits

What fruit is famous in Tunisia?

Thanks to its location along the warm and sunny Mediterranean, Tunisia produces some of the best citrus fruit in the world. Without a doubt, lemons, limes, oranges, and also dates are the most famous fruits in Tunisia.

What is Tunisia’s national fruit?

This is a tough one. It comes down to three fruits; oranges, grapes and dates. Tunisia is renowned for its oranges and dates. It does also produce one of the best wines in the World

0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterEmail
Contributing Editor

Contributing Editor account at Carthage Magazine. Tunisia's premier English general-interest Magazine with thousands of page-views per month and over 200,000 social media followers.

previous post
Climate Change & the Fight for Equity: Mohammed’s Vision for a Resilient Tunisia
next post
Towards Healing and Growth Rethinking Mental Health in Tunisia

Related Articles

Jamie Oliver Uncovers the Flavor of the Tunisian...

September 17, 2023

Djerba’s Unique Architecture: A Haven of Minimalism

September 7, 2023

Tunisian Mint Tea: A Symbol of Identity, Hospitality...

September 5, 2023

Towards Healing and Growth Rethinking Mental Health in...

August 25, 2023

Climate Change & the Fight for Equity: Mohammed’s...

August 13, 2023

Bsissa: Tunisia’s Ancient Powerhouse Dish

August 3, 2023

The Shark of Carthage: The Swimmer Who Inspired...

July 31, 2023

Carthage Festival: A Golden Opportunity to Raise Public...

July 28, 2023

Tunisia’s Iconic Red Lizard Train: A Unique &...

July 19, 2023

Tunisia Could See Its Hottest Temperatures Ever this...

July 18, 2023

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

    US Coffee Giant Starbucks Finally Opens Cafe in Tunisia

    November 22, 2019
  • 2

    Jamie Oliver Uncovers the Flavor of the Tunisian Cuisine

    September 17, 2023
  • 3

    5 Mind-Blowing Facts about the Tunisian Arabic

    February 12, 2021
  • 4

    Find Out Why PayPal Does Not Work in Tunisia

    August 14, 2019
  • 5

    Assidat Zgougou — Tunisia’s Sweetness in a Bowl

    December 16, 2020

Latest

  • Tunisian Star Ons Jabeur Wins Her Fifth WTA Title at Ningbo Open

  • Tunisia Delays Visit of European Delegation to the Country

  • UAE’s Amea Power to Build $86m Solar Project in Tunisia

  • Electricity Fully Restored in Tunisia After Nationwide Blackout

Sections

  • Editors' Picks
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Food & Drinks
  • Local History
  • News
  • No Sugarcoating
  • People
  • Quizzes
  • 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

  • Towards Healing and Growth Rethinking Mental Health in Tunisia

    August 25, 2023
  • Fruits From Tunisia: 15 Tunisian Fruits to Eat When Traveling

    August 20, 2023
  • Climate Change & the Fight for Equity: Mohammed’s Vision for a Resilient Tunisia

    August 13, 2023

© 2019 - 2023 Carthage Magazine. Privacy Policy

Carthage Magazine
  • Home
  • News
  • 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
    • Things to Do
      • Leisure
  • Local History
    • Museums
    • Monuments
    • Heritage Sites
    • Historical Figures
  • Education
  • Tech & Startups
  • Editors’ Picks
Carthage Magazine
  • Home
  • News
  • 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
    • Things to Do
      • Leisure
  • Local History
    • Museums
    • Monuments
    • Heritage Sites
    • Historical Figures
  • Education
  • Tech & Startups
  • Editors’ Picks
© 2019 - 2023 Carthage Magazine. Privacy Policy

Read alsox

5 Tips to Remember When Selling Your...

January 31, 2021

How Carthaginians Helped Shape What We Eat...

October 24, 2021

The Hammam Sousse Takhlila: An Authentic Outfit...

September 13, 2020