The Berber Souk

The Berber Souk has it's main entrance off Place Tamaklate behind the orange stalls on the opposite side off the square to the Arab Souk. Again the nomenclature "Berber" is lost in history. Entering from this side the souk seems much more mundane and of less interest to the tourist than the Arab Souk. Stalls sell everyday plastic and kitchen items vendors sell cake from trays and there are small stalls selling honey and oil in reused plastic containers. To the left are the furniture makers and the sound of saws and smell of wood dust and varnish. But  if you persevere to the rear of the market you come to some of the most expensive and quality handicraft and "antique" shops in Taroudant selling old Berber jewellry , swords and carpets.
Here also are basket makers of a high quality, vegetable stalls and most tempting of all - the spice market. Seemingly every spice known to man is piled into colourful pyramids, although Ihave not yet found rosemary. Also there are dried fruits, apricots, raisins, sultanas,figs, myriad different types of dates, and there are the sweetmeats, biscuit-like small cakes, which are so necessary for any wedding or feast, at this time of year  essential for Eid. Some stalls have elaborate gift baskets and boxes to be filled for just such an occasion. They are tempting to take home but fill them with the dried fruit as the sweetmeats are made to be eaten quickly , as you go round the market is as good as anything and do not keep well. Alos there are stalls selling different sorts of olives including my favourite chillied olives, and preserved lemons. The recycled bottles containing red sauce hold the chilli sauce which with olives and preserved lemons are the essential ingrediaents of a classic chicken tajine.

Spice stall, Berber Souk, Taroudant. 13.11.10

Coriander and mint for sale berbe souk Taroudant 13.11.10



Spices and grainsBerber spok Taroudant 13.11.10