Boukha facts for kids
Boukha is a special drink made from figs. It's a type of distilled beverage, which means it's made by heating and cooling liquids to separate alcohol. This unique drink first came from the Jewish community in Tunisia, a country in North Africa. Even today, most Boukha is still made there.
What's in a Name?
The name 'Boukha' means 'alcohol vapor' in a language called Judeo-Tunisian Arabic. This language was spoken by Jewish people in Tunisia. Boukha is made by a simple process called distillation. They use figs, which are sweet fruits grown around the Mediterranean Sea. After distillation, Boukha usually has about 36 to 40 percent alcohol.
How People Enjoy Boukha
Boukha can be enjoyed in different ways. Some people drink it plain, either at room temperature or chilled. It can also be used as a base for mixing cocktails. Sometimes, it's even added to fruit salads to give them a special flavor.
A Bit of History
For a long time, making Boukha was a tradition for the Jewish community in Tunisia. When Tunisia was under French rule, the French authorities saw Boukha production as something that wasn't easy to control. They wanted to collect taxes on alcoholic drinks. Because Boukha could be made easily and cheaply by local people, it was harder for the French to tax it. This led to rules that specifically looked at local Tunisian drinks.
