The cuisine of Tunisia is perhaps one of the greatest undiscovered treasures of the Mediterranean . It reflects the country's proud heritage, embracing and assimilating the exotic foods and tastes of other cultures. From the Phoenician sailors who brought the olive tree and the Spanish explorers returning with tomatoes from the New World , to traders who introduced the herbs and spices from the Middle East so valued by ancient physicians for their health-giving properties, Tunisia has always been a melting pot of societies and food traditions. Hafida, our eminently qualified guide , brings her intimate konwledge of local recipes passed down from one generation to the next - a eulogy to healthy cuisine and the Tunisian way of life . Delicate flavours of garden vegetables contrast with pungent seasoning , in harmony with the ubiquitous regional extra virgin olive oil from ancient cultivars that are now the subject of contemporary research , revealing profound benefits for health at the heart of the Mediterranean diet . From the foreword by Dr Simon Poole .