• Category: fig brandy
• Alcohol: 36%
• Origin: Tunisia
• Manufacturer: Félix Habib & Cie.
• Bought at: Harb Gmbh, Berlin, Germany (thanks Jaap!)

Fig brandy is something that has to grow on you. It is produced in Portugal (named aguardente de figo), but apart from that it is a typically north African Jewish product. My first introduction to boukha was not very special (as is clear from the first review on this website), but it has indeed since then grown on my. I have tended to rate boukha higher and higher over time, and consequently the earlier ratings might require an update of some sorts. But that’s too late… Anyway, even though boukha Soleil is the ‘regular’ version of the Boukha Gold, the difference in quality is only marginal. I personally prefer boukha at room temperature, but it can also be drunk cold. 7/10

• Category: fig brandy (flavored with aniseed)
• Alcohol: 41%
• Origin: Morocco
• Manufacturer: Chai Andrieux
• Bought at: Supermarket Marrakesh, Morocco (thanks Renée!)

This bottle of mahia is interesting for the accumulation of languages on the label: french, english, berber, hebrew, and only only marginally arabic. The hebrew reminds of the (once sizeable but now rather small) Jewish population of Morocco. This population traditionally were (and are) the manufacturers of spirits such as these. The Hebrew simply says the name “tamrirt”. I have not been able to find out what the Berber word “Tamrirt” actually; Google vaguely tells about a valley in Algeria, but more information is appreciated. The smell is similar to that of the French mahia Meknesiah (rather aniseed). However after tasting it becomes clear that the Mahia Meknesiah is of a completely different quality. Tamrirt is not The best of spiritueux as the label argues; instead it is intensely bitter and chemical. The question is whether there is any way of concealing the taste in order to make it consumable. However I dare not to try. It is probably even worse than the Finlandia Vodka of Cairo, which results in the lowest rating until now 1,5/10.

• Category: fig brandy
• Alcohol: 36%
• Origin: Tunisia
• Manufacturer: Félix Habib & Cie.
• Bought at: Tunis Airport, Tunisia (thanks Laura!)

Félix Habib & Cie and Bokobsa are the two best known distillers in Tunisia. Félix Habib is famous because of its Cédratine, and its boukha Soleil. This boukha is the higher quality version of Boukha Soleil. The smell is distinctly fragrant of figs, and the taste is indeed also better than the Boukha l’Oasis and the regular Boukha Soleil. 7/10

• Category: fig brandy (flavored with aniseed)
• Alcohol: 36%
• Origin: France
• Manufacturer: Thivolet Universal
• Bought at: Naouri kosher supermarket, Nice, France

Mahia (which means water of life in Arabic) is originally a Jewish Moroccan fig brandy. As the Anisette Phénix, it is now produced in France. Nevertheless other brands are still available in Morocco (see the second external link). It apparently exists either as a pure eau de vie of figs (as the Tunisian Boukha) or flavored with aniseed. This Mahia Meknesiah is flavored with aniseed, but it is very subtle, completely unlike arak, pastis or ouzo where anise is overwhelming. In any case the aroma is rather similar to boukha, but it is much fruitier en more fragrant. The taste is also much better than boukha. It should definitely not be diluted with water. It tastes fresh and fruity and the anise flavor gives a very nice and subtle touch. 8,5/10.

External link: M.G. Taieb Kosher Products
External link: Dafina Forums: Mahia (in French)

• Category: fig brandy
• Alcohol: 37,5%
• Origin: Tunisia
• Manufacturer: Bokobsa Frères
• Bought at: Raïnaraï, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Boukha l’Oasis is one of the three boukha’s (fig brandy) made by the Tunisian Jewish Bokobsa family. The other two are the regular Boukha Bokobsa, and the Boukha Bokobsa Cuvée Prestige, also known as black label. The boukha has a fairly strong and particular taste, and quite a few tasters therefore do not like it. It certainly is something to get used to. If drunk cold, it is not too bad (probably because the cold disguises the real taste). I also recommend it in fruit juices. It smells rather nice and the bottle looks nice, but the other brands of boukha are better. 5/10.

External link: Bokobsa official homepage
External link: French article on Boukha