Harissa, Knowledge, Skills and Culinary and Social Practices

Harissa is a type of seasoning made from red pepper paste and is an integral part of the domestic provisions and the daily cooking and food traditions of Tunisian society. Harissa is prepared by women and female neighbors in a family and festive environment of joy and happiness.
The chili peppers are dried, and the stems removed, then washed, ground, and seasoned with salt, garlic and coriander using a pestle and mortar or a manual meat grinder. The Harissa is later stored in glass or pottery containers for later use.
Chili pepper is grown according to an agricultural calendar that prohibits the planting of seeds during certain periods that are believed to bring misfortune and bad luck. The knowledge and skills associated with growing red pepper are passed on among local farmers or through agricultural engineering schools and institutes.

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Harissa, Knowledge, Skills and Culinary and Social Practices was inscribed in 2022 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in Tunisia.