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Thread: 6 fun facts about Tunisians and...Fish
Jokes about Tunisian fish couscous (which btw, tastes amazing) are a common occurrence on this app, but Tunisians and Fish love story goes way beyond just couscous and is ultimately linked to their love for the sea.
Jokes about Tunisian fish couscous (which btw, tastes amazing) are a common occurrence on this app, but Tunisians and Fish love story goes way beyond just couscous and is ultimately linked to their love for the sea.
1) In Tunisia, if you look closely at details, you can find fish symbolism EVERYWHERE:
Doors, jewelry, dresses, walls, windows, mosaics, songs, expressions "7outa 3lik" etc...
Sometimes you can even find actual fish tails hanging around!
Fish symbolizes fruitfulness and luck.
Doors, jewelry, dresses, walls, windows, mosaics, songs, expressions "7outa 3lik" etc...
Sometimes you can even find actual fish tails hanging around!
Fish symbolizes fruitfulness and luck.
2) It's the only country in the Maghreb that has inhabited Islands and their people are sea people whose livelihoods often depends on fishing.
Calypso (Kerkennah) & the island of dreams (Djerba) were mentioned in Omer's Odyssey.
Djerba island is bigger than neighboring Malta!
Calypso (Kerkennah) & the island of dreams (Djerba) were mentioned in Omer's Odyssey.
Djerba island is bigger than neighboring Malta!
3) It is said that Tunisia and Spain have the best fish in the west Mediterranean. Hence its heavy usage in their cuisines!
Almost every Tunisian lamb or chicken dish has a fish/sea food version, including couscous!
Tuna is usually sprinkled on Tunisian salads and side dishes.
Almost every Tunisian lamb or chicken dish has a fish/sea food version, including couscous!
Tuna is usually sprinkled on Tunisian salads and side dishes.
4) Tunisia is also one of the only 3 countries in the world that still eats Sarpa Salpa, a hallucinogenic Fish.
If not cooked properly, this fish can give you horrible nightmares, hallucinations and panic attacks!
Yes, sometimes our love for fish can be a little over the top!
If not cooked properly, this fish can give you horrible nightmares, hallucinations and panic attacks!
Yes, sometimes our love for fish can be a little over the top!
5) Ancestral fishing techniques are still practiced
Ancestral fishing techniques have been used for centuries and still are in many places.
For example clay pots are still used to trap octopus.
In Kerkennah, traps made of palm tree leaves are set in shallow waters to trap fish
Ancestral fishing techniques have been used for centuries and still are in many places.
For example clay pots are still used to trap octopus.
In Kerkennah, traps made of palm tree leaves are set in shallow waters to trap fish
6) We have (very big) white sharks
Tunisians beaches are relatively safe to swim in & shark attacks are fairly unheard of but the straight of Sicily separating Tunisia & Italy is filled with white sharks!
Tunisian fishermen caught the biggest white shark in the med ever caught!
Tunisians beaches are relatively safe to swim in & shark attacks are fairly unheard of but the straight of Sicily separating Tunisia & Italy is filled with white sharks!
Tunisian fishermen caught the biggest white shark in the med ever caught!
Conclusion: With most the population living on the Mediterranean coastline, the sea shaped the history & culture of the country -North to South- and its riches has fed its people for centuries.
Like the Phoenicians that once flourished in the region, Tunisians are a sea people!
Like the Phoenicians that once flourished in the region, Tunisians are a sea people!
