Introducing Tunisian specialty sweets
Sidi Bou Said, a hilltop town where refreshing sea breezes flow through. The scenery created by the deep blue Mediterranean Sea and white houses is as beautiful as a postcard. Our encounter with “Bambalouni,” a traditional sweet that has been loved by the locals for many years, added a special color to our journey. Let me introduce you to that special time savoring the fragrant aroma of freshly fried treats, their crispy texture, and the breathtaking scenery.
Sidi Bou Said: The White and Blue Town Overlooking the Mediterranean
Located about 30 minutes by car northeast of the capital Tunis, Sidi Bou Said is a small town spread across a hilltop. Buildings primarily in blue and white colors connect like a maze, reminiscent of Santorini Island in Greece, captivating tourists from around the world. Arabic-style decorations on blue doors and window frames, purple bougainvillea flowers crawling on white walls, and the azure Mediterranean Sea visible from throughout the town create a captivating atmosphere. Especially at dusk, the contrast between the orange-tinted sky and white walls creates a fantastical scenery. Walking through narrow alleys, the occasional sea breeze is pleasant, allowing you to experience the fascinating townscape where European and African cultures intersect.
Bambalouni: Tunisia’s Traditional Sweet
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Bambalouni is a traditional sweet beloved throughout Tunisia. It’s a simple fried pastry made by frying ring-shaped dough and dusting it with sugar, but it has a deeper charm than its appearance suggests. The outside has a crispy texture, while the inside is moist and fluffy. When eaten hot, the sweetness of the sugar and the savory aroma of the dough create a magnificent harmony in your mouth. You can enjoy various variations from classic ones with simple sugar coating to modern arrangements filled with chocolate or jam. While you can find shops serving these in the downtown area of the capital Tunis, Sidi Bou Said is known as the authentic place to try them. Many people visit this town seeking the special experience created by the traditional flavor passed down for years and the town’s scenic landscape.
Searching for Bambalouni on the Main Street
The main street is incredibly crowded with shops and people
Along the cobblestone main street, shops serving Bambalouni line up one after another. The fragrant aroma of freshly fried treats wafts from the storefronts, stopping passersby in their tracks. Every shop adopts the style of frying only after receiving an order, allowing you to taste the piping hot freshly fried treats. There are long lines in front of popular shops, but interestingly, most of the people in these lines are tourists. You can often see them choosing shops while checking TripAdvisor or Google review numbers on their smartphones. However, the length of the line doesn’t necessarily reflect the quality of taste. Local people seem to visit less crowded shops instead. Seeing this scene, we decided to search for flavors chosen by the locals.
Discovering a Local Shop
Turning into an alley slightly off the main street, we found a small Bambalouni shop. There was no flashy sign for tourists at the storefront, just simple English and French text. From inside the shop, we could hear the savory aroma of frying oil and conversations of local people. When we entered the shop, a young clerk in an apron greeted us with a full smile. With broken English and gestures, he conveyed, “I’m going to fry them now, so please wait a bit.”
A charming Bambalouni shop with a friendly shopkeeper
When he placed the dough into the fryer in front of us, a sweet aroma spread throughout the shop. As we watched the cooking process over the counter, the clerk occasionally glanced at us, showing a warm smile. There was no commercial atmosphere typical of tourist areas; instead, we felt a comfortable sense of blending into a scene from the daily lives of local people.
A Special Time at the Hidden Spot, “365 Steps”
With hot Bambalouni in hand, our next task was to find a place to eat. As Sidi Bou Said is famous as a tourist destination, the main street, cafe terraces, and observation decks are always crowded with people. However, there was a wonderful hidden spot that a local person told us about. It’s a steep staircase called “365 Steps” that connects the main street to the coast.
After passing through a side path from the main street, you’ll connect to a steep stairway
The stone staircase continues endlessly, winding between white buildings. Due to its steep gradient, many tourists tend to avoid it. We were hesitant at first, but as we descended the stairs a bit, an unexpected scenery unfolded before us. The view gradually opened up, and we arrived at a scenic point where we could see the azure Mediterranean Sea and the white townscape all at once. The wind blows pleasantly through, and the hustle and bustle of the town fade away.
Sitting down in the middle of this quiet staircase, it’s finally time to taste the Bambalouni. Taking it out of the paper bag, it’s still slightly warm. With the first bite, the exquisite contrast between the crispy outer texture and the fluffy inner dough spreads in your mouth. The sweetness of the sugar is just right, with a lightness that makes you feel like you could eat several. With each bite, the fragrant aroma of freshly fried dough tickles your nostrils. In front of you stretches the blue horizon of the Mediterranean Sea, and behind you extends the pure white townscape. The occasional sea breeze is pleasant, allowing us to spend a special time that can only be experienced in Sidi Bou Said.
An Encounter with Bambalouni That Becomes a Special Memory
Before we knew it, the Bambalouni was gone in no time. After finishing eating the last fragment, carefully savoring its taste, we mysteriously felt fulfilled. This is not just the satisfaction of having eaten a delicious pastry. Finding a quiet place in a town bustling with tourists and savoring a sweet loved by local people – that experience itself was the essence of the journey.
When visiting Sidi Bou Said, instead of relying solely on TripAdvisor ratings or tourist guide recommendations, please try the adventure of finding your own favorite Bambalouni shop. The smiles of local people, unexpected encounters in back alleys, and special moments at scenic spots – each of these experiences, along with the taste of Bambalouni, will surely be etched in your heart as irreplaceable memories.
