• 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: date brandy
• Alcohol: 43%
• Origin: Tunisia
• Manufacturer: Sté. Sarab S.A.R.L.
• Bought at: Tunis Airport, Tunisia (thanks Peter and Wanda!)

Sarab is a company which makes dates brandies (two variants) and dates liqueur (also two variants) mainly for the German market. I have not seen it for sale in Tunisia proper (outside the airports). This is the top-grade brandy variant, with a higher alcohol percentage. It is fairly strong and quite syrupy if cooled. Fragrance of dates are clearly distinguishable. Too bad that it is so hard to come by, or that there are no other producers. Apparently it is also good in cocktails, but I have not tried it. 8/10.

External link: Sarab German site

• 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: liqueur
• Alcohol: 40%
• Origin: Tunisia
• Manufacturer: Felix Habib & Cie.
• Bought at: Monoprix Supermarket, Tunis, Tunisia

Cédratine is, in the terminology of its producer the “Vieille Liqueur de Carthage”. This strong liqueur is made of a certain type of citron, and this is also clear from the smell and the taste. It is rather less sweet than Thibarine, and this lack of sugar also makes it taste more alcoholic. It is also a lot fruitier than Thibarine, which makes Cédratine in general better than the other digestive. 8/10.

• Category: liqueur
• Alcohol: 40%
• Origin: Tunisia
• Manufacturer: Domaine de Thibar
• Bought at: Monoprix supermarket, Tunis, Tunisia

Thibarine is originally made by monks in the Thibar region in Tunisia. Nowadays, the monks have left but wine is still produced on the Domaine de Thibar, as well as this very sweet digestive liqueur, which is similar to Jägermeister. The ingredients are unclear; various sources say it is made of dates but this does not seem to be the case. Some other websites state that it is made of distilled wine, as cognac is made. It is probably made by macerating a number of herbs and plants, and subsequent heavy sweetening. 7.5/10

• 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