Tunisia – Distillation of orange blossoms in Nabeul, a craft passed down through generations

Location: Tunis – Tunisia

Language: Arabic

Voice: Natural

Duration: 00:06:18

Source: A24

Restriction: A24 Clients

Dateline: 21-04-2022

Storyline

Distillation of orange blossoms using traditional methods is one of the crafts that the inhabitants of the Tunisian tribal homeland have been doing for a generation.

Rania Mansour from Nabeul town makes turned this craft she learned from her grandmother into a source of livelihood by starting a project she called “Zamnia”.

Shotlist

• SOUNDBITE (Rania Mansour – Blossoms distillation expert):

“Zamnia is a family project that I started with my husband. Nabeul town is very well known for its blossoms and distillation of orange blossoms. I learned this process from my late grandmother.”

• SOUNDBITE (Rania Mansour – Blossoms distillation expert):

“We learned its traditional process and did not modify anything. We only changed the tube through which the blossoms pass. Our ancestors made use of everything and blossoms are good for the body, health, and children. They have left us many good rules for distillation.”

• SOUNDBITE (Rania Mansour – Blossoms distillation expert):

“We pick the blossoms in March and April. People use it a lot and like it. It represents good luck.”

• SOUNDBITE (Rania Mansour – Blossoms distillation expert):

“We use the extraction of the blossoms in our food. Everyone buys it in large quantities even tourists like it. I made them small packages so they get to know the traditional Tunisian product.”

• SOUNDBITE (Rania Mansour – Blossoms distillation expert):

“We follow some traditions beginning with the process of harvesting the blossoms till the end. We sing certain songs while picking the blossoms. We don’t hire workers, but we do it all ourselves. We do this work annually. People think that this work is fun but it is exhausting and needs patience, however, we do the work with love and don’t let anyone enter our workshop. I only let my husband, parent, and whoever I trust to enter my workshop. You need a lot of patience.|”

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