Archive for the ‘souks’ Category

Travel Zagora: Morocco’s Tamagroute Pottery Cooperative

Saturday, April 25th, 2009

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Every day in Morocco potter’s hands mold the burnt orange clay, wheels turn and ceramic bowls bake in the heat. It’s a daily process.

In the villages, woman head down to the river bank to dig the moist clay from the earth. Retracing their steps back home with full woven baskets. A heavy load. The clay drips. Water stains the dry dirt.

Morocco is well known for its wide range of ceramic pottery. The pots are generally used for daily life, a large number are bought by tourists, while others are exported over seas. Pottery also lines the souks, hand painted with fine detail, deep colors and a variety of hand spun designs.

The city of Fes is known for producing high end pottery with an array of colors and sparkling glaze. Tamegroute produces pottery inspired by Fes designs. The kilns of Tamegroute are built into the steep slopes of the countryside. Tamegroute is known for its distinct green and brown glaze.

Tamegroute has been a religious center since the 11th century. The Nasiriyya brotherhood brought the native techniques and green enamel from Fes to Tamegroute, assembling merchants and craftsmen to raise the status of the city.

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The pottery cooperatives is a great attraction for tourists visiting the Zagora region. Pottery is made and bought on the spot at the cooperatives. Some of the village roofs of Tamegroute and other regions are also tiled with the green ceramic clay. When the sunlight streams down, the green roofs glisten against the stone city.

The green glaze is made from a combination of magnesium and copper. The ceramic pots and dishes with this glaze are waterproof. A trip to the pottery villages is a great way to get inside the local culture of Morocco, to experience some hands on work, and take home a sustainable and “green” souvenir.

Blogs Filed Under:
Travel Morocco’s Pottery Cooperative, Pottery Lessons in Morocco, Morocco, Celebrate Moroccan Pottery, Morocco Travel, Tours to Morocco, Morocco Tourism

 

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Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Google on call Travel Exploration at (917)703-2078 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

Berber Carpet Weaving Traditions of Morocco

Friday, April 24th, 2009

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Moroccan carpets are famous around the world. In the West, the tightly woven beige Berber rugs are found in most modern homes, schools and offices. Although these rugs are stain resistant their dark flecks of brown and tan do not compare to the thousands of intricate designs and colors of the traditional Berber carpets of Morocco.

Styles

Traditional Berber carpets contain distinctive patterns and colors and are woven from sheep wool or camel hair (you can also find them made from nylon and olefin material). The materials are hand-washed and naturally dyed from saffron yellow, to wild mint green, and from pomegranate and henna. These carpets are known for their strong geometric designs, and have been dated them as far back as the Merinid era. Carpets in the Middle Atlas generally have a traditional diamond grid.

Climates

The Berber tribes developed a variety of weaves to be adaptable to different climates. The rugs in the mountains have larger loops, are more loosely knotted to provide protection against the cold. In warmer climates the rugs are made with a finer weave. The carpets in the Middle Atlas were used as sleeping mats, and in regions with mild climates knots tend to be 2cm high.

History

Berber weaving is highly dependent on the female culture, and is passed down traditionally within the home. The young apprentice is expected to learn the the different looping techniques, patterns, color ranges and motifs. Historically women wove carpets for their families, and men traditionally produced carpets that were more specialized as professional masterweavers. These inspiring designs have been motivation for more modern carpet fabrication.

Historically carpets where a preferred gift for people in elite social classes and where used to adorn palaces and other sacred places. The more urban carpets have also been used at prayer mats and rugs in the hammam. Travelers who are interested in Berber carpet weaving should check out the Weavers Cooperative, and the Berber Carpet Demonstration, a famous exhibition. Some ancient Haouz rugs are also preserved in museums such as the Dar Batha Museum. These intricate rugs can be purchased from the tribes themselves but also in the winding souks of Fes, Marrakech and Rabat.

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Haouz

Carpets originating in the hills and plains of the Haouz region do not tend to follow traditional designs or rules. In this region, the weavers stress the freedoms of the individual throughout the composition. The carpets have a distinctive style and are often captivating works of art.

Art Form

The bold colors, in depth patterns and weaving techniques of  different regions have their own distinct style. Each tribe has a signature pattern and commonly unfold a story, revealing acts of ceremony, or designs that often relate to fertility and protection. Like any other type of abstract art, interpretations can be better guided with additional knowledge of the culture, songs and legends.

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Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Google on call Travel Exploration at (917)703-2078 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

Backpacking in Morocco: The Best Way to Travel Local Culture

Monday, April 13th, 2009

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After crashing her car in Italy, Lizzi Thomson of Bristol, grabbed a pack and some friends and continued traveling. Determined to feel the rhythm of a different world she headed to Morocco. After backpacking around Europe and one sleepless night in the Czech Republic, kept up by a man with night terrors and endless snoring she found her self settled under the stars in Marrakech.

“Morocco was a different story. Everyone stayed in Hostels. We slept on the rooftop terraces, under the stars. My favorite thing about sleeping outside was the call to prayer during the night, it was eerily peaceful,” said Lizzi.

“We spent every night on the roof, luckily it never rained but there was a tent that you could go under if it did. It was so warm, and the hostels were really nice. We only stayed in a hotel one night, after a midnight train ride,” said Albert Testani of Connecticut.

Albert, while studying at University of York, also took advantage of the opportunity to travel. Albert backpacked around Spain, France, India and Morocco. Spending time diving into each culture. While hitch-hiking in France was the most adventurous, hopping trains through Morocco was a guaranteed way to make friends.

The trains were great once you figured out how to read the signs in Arabic. According to Albert, getting around in Morocco was fairly easy and inexpensive. “With a bargaining culture there is no such thing as a fixed price,” he continued. As an insider to the bartering system he often got away with a cheap ride, thanks to the Lonely Plane Guide.

man-with-backpack1“In Marrakech there is so much to do, going to the Medina was a massive party every night,” said Albert.” We experienced (a more intimate) Moroccan culture in smaller cities like Fes, and Chefchaouen and Tangier. In the smaller cities you could blend with life more.”

The only trouble was getting lost in the maze-like cities. “It’s quite tricky to get around, the streets are rather winding. Anyone you ask for directions will know your a tourist by your Caucasian skin… we often would end up on a long elaborate tour, waving to all their friends houses,” said Lizzi.

It was a sea of clay and terracotta buildings. “We would wonder around, one day we found a woman sitting cooking, there were a lot of locals eating there… We got a massive meal for 2 dirhams. The Medina was filled with kabob stands, and fresh orange juice, which according to Albert “was amazing!”

For readers interested in backpacking in Morocco, make sure to check out some of Morocco’s adventure sports.

 

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Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Google on call Travel Exploration at (917)703-2078 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

Moroccan Sweets and Pastries, North African Deserts & Recipes

Sunday, April 12th, 2009

 

Moroccan Pastries, Sweets and Deserts

Moroccan Pastries, Sweets and Deserts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stuffed with almond paste, dusted with confectionery sugar and flaking with each bite, Moroccan pastries are reserved for special occasions. Cooking is regarded as an extravagant art in Morocco and in North Africa. Large meals are prepared for births, circumcisions, weddings, celebrations of the days of the profit and various other typical and Muslim specific holidays. Moroccan pastries and deserts are usually offered along with Moroccan Mint tea before the first course of a meal. When touring Morocco make sure to not miss out arriving on time if you are invited into someone’s home as this serves as the perfect opportunity for you to allow the sweeter part of the meal to linger.

As a Guest

Moroccan cuisine traditions are an essential learning experience that can also be provided on a Tailor Made Tour through Cooking with a Daada Chef and bread baking with the Berbers.Travelers that have the opportunity to stay with a Moroccan family will experience a breakfast made for the kings. The host family traditionally will serve a variety of pastries for breakfast: Rghaif (flat buttery Moroccan pastries), Sfenj (Moroccan doughnuts), French pastries (croissants), along with Bayd (eggs, cooked with cumin and sesame seeds), orange juice or coffee.

Moroccan Sfenj, Fried Doughnut

Moroccan Sfenj, Fried Doughnut

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pancakes

Pancakes are a traditional breakfast food as well as a sweet treat in Morocco. On holidays they are adorned with honey, icing, sugar, butter or a rich almond paste. Baghrir pancakes are fried in hot oil, with dot-like air craters on on side.

History

These succulent Moroccan sweets were once only served to the sultans, Islamic leaders, and the elite. When spices were as prized as gold, lower classes were rarely able to partake in such indulgences. Now, when neighbors and friends come together during their afternoon break they enjoy the company with a pot of mint tea and pastries.

Souks

The smell of fresh pastries linger through the city streets. All throughout the maze-like souks vendors sell a wide range of Moroccan sweets. A savory dish, native to Morocco, is bastila, a multi-layered pastry filled with shredded chicken or pigeon meat gently and brushed with a lemon-onion sauce and covered in almonds, cinnamon and sugar. Other flaky croissants are served with warm honey, apricot or other jams.

All Shapes and Sizes

Moroccan deserts and pastries come in all shapes and sizes, generally pastries are light and healthy often made with nuts. Some are long and thin, others round- filled or hallow. Gazelle horns, a crescent shaped treat is of the most famous Moroccan sweets. Check out the recipe below!

Recipe: Kaab el-ghzal (gazelle horns)

serving size: 16 pastries

bake until lightly golden at 350 degrees F

1 3/4 cups of flour

2 tbsp. melted butter

2 tbsp. orange flower water

2 large egg yolks, beaten

A pinch of salt

Icing sugar

Almond Paste:

2 cups of finely ground Almonds

1 cup icing sugar

2 tbsp. orange flower water

2 tbsp. melted butter

2 egg yolks beaten

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:

Combine all the ingredients for the almond paste in a bowl, stir until smooth- divide paste into 16 pieces.

Take each piece and roll it into small cylinders (7cm long)

In another bowl, combine flour and salt, melted butter, orange flower and one egg yolk, add cold water to form a soft dough. Kneed for ten minutes, roll out into a thing rectangle- then cut into strips.

Place the almond paste on each pastry, spacing them 3 cm apart. Fold in half to seal the paste. Moisten both sides of the pastry with the remaining egg yolk and a small amount of water. Cut each pasty into a crescent shape, place on a buttered and floured baking sheet.

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Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Google on call Travel Exploration at 1800-787-8806 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

Travel Fes: A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Saturday, April 11th, 2009
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Donkeys hooves knock against the stone, while people scurry through the Medina, getting lost in the maze like streets. Something is different about Fes. Listen closely, there are no honking horns, putting motors or screeching brakes. That’s right, inside the fortified walls and labyrinth allies there are no cars.

The best way to explore the city is by foot. Tourists should make sure to swing by the Dar Batha Museum, the home to Moroccan Arts. The display of handwoven Berber carpets, cobalt blue and ceramic pottery, embroideries, ancient astrolabes, and zelliges, elaborate mosaic and ceramic tiles, is a transport back in time.

Make sure to check out the video above from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for World Heritage.

 

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Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Google on call Travel Exploration at (917)703-2078 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

Moroccan Souks – Travel Adventures in Moroccan Marketplaces

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

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The souks, or market places, in Moroccan cities often take up entire city blocks and are made up of stall after stall of goods that wind their way through the narrow alleys and side streets, often only wide enough for pedestrians and the occasional donkey. The stalls themselves are piled high with Moroccan goods from traditional brightly colored carpets and scarves, sacks of exotic herbs and spices, to freshly picked fruits and slaughtered meat from local farmers.

As well as a place for Moroccans to buy and sell their goods, souks are also important parts of the social scene within Moroccan culture, serving as a place to settle disputes and debts and also as a place where families can meet to discuss future wedding plans. As women customarily stayed home and kept out of the public eye in rural Morocco the weekly souks offered a chance for women from different families to meet, gather cooking materials for upcoming meals, and catch up on the latest gossip.

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Specialty Souks

The souks may seem chaotic crazy to an outsider but there is actually an organization to them that helps make the souks easier to navigate. Specialty souks within the souk itself specialize in one product such as Moroccan scarves, setting it apart from the next street over which might be the meat souk. This means shoppers can browse through the colorful stalls filled with silk scarves along one street to inspect the quality and compare the prices between stalls before moving on to the next street and selecting the cut of lamb they wish to purchase for dinner that night.

Haggling

Haggling is an expected part of the buying and selling process in Moroccan souks. It is not unusual for a shopper wishing to buy a high quality Moroccan rug to spend half the day bargaining with the rug seller over the price, often over many cups of sweet mint tea. The process usually begins with the shop keeper naming a price and then the buyer will then counter that offer usually with a number 1/3 to ½ the amount the shop keeper suggested. The buyer and seller will then go back and forth offering and counter offering before finally agreeing on a price. Patience and respect are important in the bargaining process and if a shop keeper allows you to walk away without purchasing his product then you underestimated its value and offered too low a price.

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Souks in Fes and Marrakech

Two of the most impressive souks occur in the cities of Fes and Marrakech. In Marrakech the souk is located behind the famous Djemma el Fna square where street performers, snake charmers, and story tellers gather along with food and orange juice vendors to provide entertainment and refreshment. The souk itself is spread out along the twisty side streets behind the square and offers shoppers a wide and varied choice of traditional Moroccan goods.

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While Marrakech is famous of its circus-like main square the souk in Fes is more of a practical nature where locals go to buy day to day produce as well as specialty items. Fes is famous for its extensive tanneries which are one of the most photographed sites in Africa making the souks in Fes the best places to buy leather products.

These daily souks have changed little over the centuries and for visitors who wish to truly experience Moroccan culture the best way is to step into the hustling and chaotic world of the Moroccan souk. For the large crowded souks of Fes and Marrakech it is often suggested that tourists hire a guide to help them find their way and assist them in haggling over prices with shop keepers.

The most important thing to remember in a Moroccan souk is to have fun! Enjoy browsing through the items and haggling with the shop keeper, it is a unique Moroccan experience that is sure to provide plenty of stories and one of a kind souvenirs to take back home.

 

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Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Google on call Travel Exploration at (917)703-2078 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

Moroccan Spice Tour: From Souks to the Plate- Essentials For Moroccan Cooking

Friday, April 3rd, 2009

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Exotic aromas of ginger, coriander, and cinnamon mingle in the streets. Fine mounds of spices tower like sand pyramids in the dusty souks of Morocco.  Deep red paprika, vibrant yellow turmeric, beige sesame, green olives and lemons layer in eye catching patterns.

One of the largest markets for Moroccan spices is in Agadir. The spices are customarily displayed in metal tins, woven baskets or plastic tubs. Each dose is weighed individually and sold in a modest paper bag.

Medicinal Properties

Herb specialists in the souks have a wealth of knowledge of the medicinal benefits of the array of red, orange and yellow spices. Cumin, in between a rust and gold color, has been utilized as a stimulant, antispasmodic, carminative, sedative, digestive and also a remedy for colic and dyspeptic headaches. Saffron along with its pungent flavor and sharp odor is said to cure asthma, and some herbalists claim it contains anti-cancer properties. Cinnamon is known to have antibacterial entities and turmeric along with exhibiting strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidants also helps slow the process of food spoiling.

spicesNative Spices


While many spices were emported from the East they also originate throughout the Mediterranean and can be specifically found in Morocco. Saffron, which is often used when cooking white meats, poultry and lamb, is native from Tiliouine. Saffron is difficult to cultivate because it must be picked by hand, and for every one gram it requires 140 of the violet blue flowers. Lemons and oranges originate in Fez, and olives and mint derive from Meknes. Some other widespread spices are also home grown: cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, mint, pepper, ginger, paprika, sesame seed, anis seed, coriander, and parsley.

Dessert

Spices are the heart of Moroccan cooking, and are crucial for making a couscous or a tajine, two popular Moroccan dishes, they are also used sparingly in many desserts. Halwa shebakia, a Moroccan delicacy, is a type of honey cake. Its pretzel-like pieces of dough deep-fried and dipped into a hot pot of honey are then sprinkled with sesame seeds. The ingredients also include a teaspoon of turmeric and ground cinnamon. Saffron is also commonly used in desserts (milk, yogurt, puddings) and teas.

Mint-Tea Fresh

Not only a breath freshener, mint is also served as an herbal remedy with soothing tendencies. Traditionally while Moroccans pour their tea they raise the steaming pot high above the glass, when the tea bubbles it insures its freshness. Mint tea is also customarily served in small shots. While negotiating prices in the souks, it is common that bargainers will be offered some mint tea.

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Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Google on call Travel Exploration at (917)703-2078 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.