Moroccan Crafts

Essaouira, Souss

Cold-pressed oil from the nuts of the argan tree, used for skin, hair, and nail care. Morocco is the only significant source in the world.

Kelaat M'Gouna, Dades Valley

Distilled water from Damask roses, used in cooking, skincare, and traditional ceremonies. The Dades Valley produces Morocco's finest rose water.

Various regions

Handwoven baskets made from palm leaf, straw, or doum palm, often decorated with leather, wool, or sequin embellishments.

Various regions

Henna paste cones and stencils for temporary body art. Includes natural henna powder, application tools, and traditional pattern guides.

Various regions

Traditional olive-based black soap paste used in Moroccan hammam rituals. Dark brown to black, with a thick, spreadable consistency.

Various regions

Rough-textured mitt used in Moroccan hammam rituals to scrub and exfoliate skin after applying black soap.

Middle Atlas

Mineral-rich cleansing clay mined from the Middle Atlas mountains, used as a hair and skin wash in hammam rituals.

Various regions

Morocco's signature spice mix, meaning 'head of the shop' — the shopkeeper's best blend. Contains 10–30+ spices including cumin, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, black pepper, and rose petals.

Erfoud, Sahara

Polished stone objects containing real fossils (ammonites, orthoceras, trilobites) carved into plates, bowls, and decorative objects.

Various regions

Small, colorful glass cups decorated with gold or silver painted motifs, essential for the Moroccan mint tea ceremony.

Fes, Marrakech

Decorative objects, boxes, and jewelry carved from camel bone, often dyed and inlaid into wooden furniture or sold as standalone pieces.

Various regions

Large circular frame drum with a goatskin head and snare strings across the back. The most common percussion instrument in Moroccan traditional music.

Essaouira, Marrakech

Three-stringed bass lute with a carved wooden body covered in camel or goatskin. The signature instrument of Gnawa spiritual music.

Taliouine, Souss-Massa

Hand-harvested saffron stigmas from the Taliouine region, the world's second-largest saffron producer after Iran. The most expensive spice by weight.

Khemisset, Meknes

Distilled water from bitter orange (bigarade) blossoms, used extensively in Moroccan pastries, beverages, and skincare.

Various regions

Flat woven table mats and trivets made from dyed palm leaf or straw, often in colorful geometric patterns.

Various regions

Wide-brimmed sun hats woven from palm leaf or straw, often decorated with colorful pompoms, tassels, or embroidery.

Fes, Marrakech

Oil-based perfumes and fragrance blends sold in small ornate bottles. Based on traditional Middle Eastern and North African attar perfumery.

Essaouira, Marrakech

Heavy iron castanets used in Gnawa spiritual music, producing a loud rhythmic clacking sound. Pairs of hinged metal clappers played in each hand.

Various regions

Goblet-shaped hand drum with a ceramic or metal body and a synthetic or goatskin head. Smaller and more portable than the bendir.

Fes, Tetouan

Pear-shaped fretless stringed instrument with a short, bent neck and a rounded back made from strips of wood. The ancestor of the European lute.

Various regions

Handmade scented soap bars crafted with olive oil, argan oil, and natural botanicals like rose, orange blossom, lavender, and eucalyptus. Distinct from black soap (savon beldi).

Various regions

Finely ground mineral eye cosmetic applied with a thin stick (mirwed), sold in small ornate containers. One of the oldest cosmetics in human history.

Various regions

Dried Chinese gunpowder green tea and fresh or dried spearmint leaves for making traditional Moroccan mint tea (atay). The national drink.