A shopkeeper shows a plate of Tunisian Harissa at the central market of the capital Tunis. UNESCO today added Tunisia’s spicy national condiment Harissa to its list of intangible cultural heritage, saying it was part of the North African country’s identity. This year’s session, which ends on Dec. 3, evaluates over 50 nominations submitted by States Parties for inscription on the Lists of the Convention. AFP

The item “Harissa, knowledge, skills and culinary and social practices” passed the examination at the 17th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage ongoing in the Moroccan capital Rabat. /© Institut National du Patrimoine (INP), Tunisie, 2020/

Harissa is made by drying chili peppers in the sun before splitting them, removing their stalks and deseeding. The chili peppers are then washed, ground and seasoned with salt, garlic and coriander using a pestle and mortar or a manual meat mincer. /© Institut National du Patrimoine (INP), Tunisie, 2020/