Honey and olive oil: the Moroccan breakfast duo

In this article: honey and olive oil, their traditional uses in Morocco, how to use them and general precautions.

Related products: Jujube (sidr) honey · Moroccan olive oil

Honey (العسل)

Honey has long been part of the Moroccan table: at breakfast with bread and butter, and in pastries such as chebakia.

How to use: A small spoon at breakfast or in a warm drink. No honey or hive products for babies under 1 or anyone allergic to bee products.

Olive oil (زيت الزيتون)

Olive oil is the base of Moroccan cooking and is also used traditionally to massage skin and hair.

How to use: As part of varied meals, in normal cooking amounts.

Honey in a daily routine

• A small spoon of honey at breakfast is enough to enjoy it.
• Keep it simple: one or two regular steps beat many irregular ones.
• Watch how your skin or hair responds and stop if any irritation appears.

How to choose and store honey

• Buy enough for a few weeks so it stays fresh and fragrant.
• Choose a product with a clear origin and a label showing ingredients, size and date.
• A natural smell and colour are good signs; avoid anything that smells off or looks damp.
• Keep honey in an airtight container away from light, heat and moisture.
• Always use a clean, dry spoon.

Honey in Moroccan souks and the attar's shop

• Honey is one of the products Moroccans have known for generations, with ways of using it passed down in families.
• Names vary by region, between Arabic, Amazigh and Darija, but the customs are similar.
• Today the same traditional products come with clear labels and home delivery.
• In the souks of Fes, Marrakech and Essaouira, the attar (herbalist-grocer) displays herbs, spices and oils in sacks and bottles.

General precautions

• Pregnant or breastfeeding women, children and anyone on medication: ask a doctor first.
• Patch-test oils and skin products on a small area; avoid the eyes.
• Store cool and dry, out of reach of children.
• Moderation first; herbs do not replace a varied diet.

Note: general, traditional information only, not medical advice; it does not replace a doctor.