This Week at Tierra, A Journey Through the Flavours of North Africa

Whether it’s a slow tagine, a tray of roasted veg, or a quick midweek meal, a good spice can take you a long way. No big plans needed, just good ingredients and a bit of time in the kitchen.

You’ll find all these flavours in the shop this week, lined up and ready to take home.

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A Few Years Back

In 2017, we spent a few months travelling through Morocco.

No rush, no plan, just driving, stopping where it felt right, wandering through souks and small markets, following the scent of spices through narrow streets.

Some of the best moments were the simplest ones, baking flatbreads over the fire with our hosts in the early morning, mint tea poured slowly, and tagines and keftas shared at roadside cafés, from the Atlas Mountains to the edge of the Sahara.

Everywhere we went, spices were at the centre of the table.

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The Kind of Cooking That Stays With You

What we brought back wasn’t just flavours, but a way of cooking.

Simple ingredients, used well.

A spoon of harissa stirred into olive oil and brushed over carrots, roasted until caramelised.
A slow chicken tagine with preserved lemon, garlic and olives, finished with a generous pinch of cumin and coriander.
Or something as simple as warm chickpeas tossed with olive oil, caraway seeds and salt.

Nothing complicated, just letting the spices do their thing.

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Friday Cous cous

One thing we loved was the tradition of Friday couscous, a weekly ritual that brings people back to the table.

It’s easy to bring a bit of that home, fluffy couscous with roasted vegetables, a pinch of Ras el Hanout, and a dollop of yoghurt. Maybe some chickpeas, fresh herbs, and whatever you have on hand.

The kind of meal that comes together slowly, and is always better when shared.

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And Always Something Sweet

There was always something to finish, often baklava, or something as simple as walnuts with honey and fresh cheese.

A small, sweet moment to close the meal.

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We hope this little journey inspires you to explore these flavours in your own kitchen.

And if you feel like travelling a bit further, enjoy a selection of photos from our personal album, capturing some of the places, meals, and moments that stayed with us long after the trip ended.