Ilyes Ziadi, Tunisian Tour Guide

I’ve traveled throughout Tunisia many times and amongst all the treasures I’ve discovered during those magical journeys, the best is our tour guide, Ilyes Ziadi. Ilyes opened my eyes to the history, cuisine and culture of Tunisia and did so with the grace and good humor of a true professional.

One evening, our trade mission tour had eaten quite late after a long day of sightseeing and travel. When we finished our meal, we noticed the tour bus had left. Most of us still had luggage and computers aboard. Within a few minutes, Ilyes had the bus and driver at the ready outside the hotel. I think his reply after he realized we needed the bus back was a simple, “No problem.”

Ilyes became a professional guide after years of education and training. After secondary school he studied “tourist entertainment” for three years, and then worked for one year and six months as an apprentice in two different resort hotels.

After his internship, he spent two years at the Tourism Information center in Hammamet, part of Tunisia’s National Tourism office, before receiving his tour guide diploma and identification card. He is certified in and speaks and writes fluent French, English, German, Italian, and Arabic.

If you need a guide on your next trip to Tunisia, I recommend Ilyes Ziadi.(Send me a note or leave a comment and I’ll send you his email address.) Ilyes is available for large or small tours, trade missions, and individual excursions throughout Tunisia. He’s one of those fortunate people who really loves his work.

I’ve just returned from Anuga in Cologne, Germany where more than 6,500 exhibitors and nearly 150,000 trade visitors gathered from around the world to get inspiration, ideas and innovations.

Anuga (October 10 -12) is not only the largest food and beverage fair in the world; it´s also the sector´s most important fair for new markets and target groups. It´s the perfect venue for all the latest trends and themes – and a great place to make first-rate contacts and business deals.

Sarah Mays participated in the May 2011 Trade Mission to explore Tunisian olive oil for Zingerman’s Road House back home. She visited Tunisia once before and stayed for a month in order to study each region’s cuisine. When asked where she learned her flawless French, she replied that she watched Canada’s French version of Sesame Street while growing up.

I have no doubt that Tunisia’s future will be brighter if it is guided by the voices of the Tunisian people. – U.S. President Barack Obama

But just in case taste was not enough reason to make the Butter Lettuce Salad with Oranges and Red Onion Dressing for lunch, some scientists from Spain gave me three more.

Three recent studies out of Spain conclude that the consumption of olive oil:

1. Blocks the generation of cancerous tissue

2 .Contributes to stopping cancer.

3. Increases longevity

But more importantly, I will enjoy the tangy taste of a unique salad dressing drizzled over fresh, crisp lettuce.  That’s all the reason my stomach needs.

Saveurs Méditerranéennes SA is one of the Tunisian companies exporting its nation’s liquid gold. Located in the City of Kondar in the central Tunisia, a region well known by its wide lands of olive trees, Saveurs Méditerranéennes SA produces has two labels:

• Buongusto  – a range of quality extra virgin olive oils
• L’oliv – a variety of flavor infused extra virgin oils

Tunisian Olive Oils

You can “like” us on Facebook, connect with us on our blog, and follow us on Twitter.  100% Tunisian olive oil is connecting with consumers across the social media spectrum as adult use of social-networking sites soars according to a recent study.

A study conducted by the Princeton Survey Research Associates International found that:

• 65% percent of all U.S. adults now use social-networking sites compared to only 5% in 2005.
• 83% of 18 and 29 years olds are active on social media sites.
• One-third of adults ages 65 and older say they now use social-networking sites, compared with 26% who said this a year ago.
• 43% of U.S. adults said they visit sites like Facebook and Twitter daily, up from 38% a year ago.

Businesses Can Also Connect with 100% Tunisian Olive Oil:

• Like us on Facebook and leaves comment on our wall
• Comment on our blog (here!)
• Tweet or retweet us

Olive grove in central Tunisia.

One question that consumers continually ask on the 100% Tunisian Olive Oil Facebook page is where can I buy 100% Tunisian Olive Oil?  And the answer is simple: all the places listed in our searchable database.  Whether these buyers live on the east coast, the west coast, the great white north, or the deep south, our database has the answer.

The more important question is are you in our database? Our you our Facebook friend?

If you sell quality 100% Tunisian Olive Oil then you know the difference 2,000 years of experience can make. Since the 8th century BC, Tunisia has been producing remarkable olive oil using distinctive varieties of olives not found in other parts of the world.

Vendors of 100% Tunisian Olive Oil are:

• Featured in our database.
• Linked, liked, and posted about on our Facebook page.
• Featured on our blog.

KEY FINDINGS

• 74% of the consumers did not like what the expert tasters identified as high-quality oil. Expert tasters tended to rate as high quality those oils that were bitter and pungent and free of defects.
• A majority of consumers disliked olive oils that were bitter and pungent.
• Consumers liked fruity oils  – identified as nutty, ripe fruit, green tea, butter, green fruit and grassy.

Tunisian olive oil for sale at Cost Plus World Market.

Last week on our Facebook page we asked consumers what they wanted to learn about  olive oil.  We quickly learned that the answer was everything.

What exactly is olive oil supposed to be used for? I try using it in place of shortening, etc, but it just burns in the pan.

Answer: Olive oil can be used to marinade, saute, and fry food.  Burning can be the olive oil was cold  – not hot – when the food was added so the food absorbed the oil. Or if frying, there might not have been enough oil to cover the food.  Since olive oil is reusable you don’t have to feel the need to ration its use.

 Are there separate (or better) oil types for cooking with and eating “raw” such as to dip bread in?

Answer: Olive oil and virgin olive oil are great for cooking.  An extra virgin olive oil  – especially a flavored oil – is better for dipping.

Educate your customers
Educating consumers about the quality and variety of Tunisian olive oils is the cornerstone of successful sales.  It can be as simple as a few words next to the price or a more elaborate tasting.  But once consumers understand the quality and health benefits of a product they have no problem paying for it.

• Tell consumers how the olive oil is best used: cooking, dipping or in a vinaigrette?
• Emphasize the health benefits of olive oil.
• Offer recipes with purchase or in newsletters.
• Offer an olive oil tasting.