Boukha bottle

Boukha (Tunisian Arabic: بوخة) is a distilled beverage produced from figs. It originated in the Tunisian Jewish community, where most of it is still produced.

Etymology

Its name means 'alcohol vapor' in Judeo-Tunisian Arabic. It is obtained by simple distillation of Mediterranean figs. Its alcohol percentage ranges between 36 and 40 percent.

Overview

Boukha can be consumed straight at room temperature or cold,^[1] or serve as the basis for cocktails and for fruit salad.

History of boukha in Colonial Tunisia

The production of Boukha was closely linked to the Jewish community in Tunisia and was seen as a threat by the French colonial authorities in Tunisia as something that would have a malicious and violent effect on Muslims in the region in comparison to French alcoholic products. In addition, the production of Boukha was creating an alcohol market that could not provide tax revenue for the French colonial authorities and thus was subject to alcohol laws that deliberately targeted indigenous Maghrebi drinks as they could be easily produced and consumed for less due to the lack of tax.^[2]