Moving to the US a few years ago made me realize how much I missed my culinary heritage: Tunisian food, deeply rooted in the vibrant Mediterranean tradition. It's a cuisine where olive oil isn't just an ingredient; it's the soul, connecting sun-drenched vegetables, fragrant spices, and the simple goodness of the earth. Sharing these dishes with my friends in the US, the rich aroma of our family's olive oil filling my kitchen, became a way to share a piece of my heart and home.
Tunisia's history with olive oil runs deep, over 3000 years. It begins with the indigenous Berber people, who long understood the deep connection between the olive and our land, their traditions intertwined with its growth. Following them, the Phoenicians, ancient seafarers and traders, arrived and first planted these precious trees along our coast. Centuries later, the Romans built upon this foundation, expanding the cultivation and prizing Tunisian olive oil throughout their empire.
For generations, our family life has revolved around the olive groves. I've always known the rhythm of caring for the trees and patiently extracting their oil. This tradition, a knowledge refined over centuries, lives on through us. And at the heart of this is the incredible work of the indigenous Berber women on our land. Their profound understanding of the soil, the trees, and the subtle signs of the harvest is priceless. They are the guardians of ancient wisdom, their hands carrying the experience of countless generations.
The secret to Damya Olive Oil's special taste? It's the unique terroir of Tunisia and the exceptional organic olive varieties that thrive here. It's the purity – never blended, always fresh – achieved through our cold extraction method, a process that respects the integrity of the fruit and preserves its vibrant flavors. In every drop, you taste the sunshine of Tunisia, the richness of our history, and the care of the women who nurture it from the ground up.
So, in 2019, driven by a desire to share this authentic taste of Tunisia, I embarked on a journey to bring the very best of olive oil to the USA. It's more than just oil; it's a story of a land, a people, and a tradition I'm honored to share with you.
-Naouel, Damya Founder
