Algerian Radio
Jams prepared from rose petals and orange blossoms, which currently adorn several stands at the "Constantine Spring of Rose and Orange Blossom Distillation and Craftsmanship" exhibition, continue to attract an increasing number of visitors.
This open-air event launched on April 21st at the Benboulaïd Alleys in the city center to mark Heritage Month (April 18 – May 18). It has recorded a significant turnout, particularly among young female entrepreneurs specializing in traditional sweets and housewives active in the craft of jam-making, according to Abdelghani Sifer, Director of the Chamber of Craftsmanship and Trades (CAM), in a statement to APS.
Visitors, including those traveling from neighboring wilayas, are also drawn to the stands featuring traditional rose and orange blossom distillation. Practiced in the spring, this timeless tradition utilizes the qatar (copper still) to showcase the process to a new generation eager to preserve this intangible heritage, he added.
Zoubir Boubarbara and Amer Bensouissi, expert artisans from the historic neighborhoods of Sidi M’cid and Salah Bey, noted that rose and orange blossom distillation is one of the oldest forms of craftsmanship and savoir-faire—a vital legacy of Constantine’s intangible cultural heritage.
For her part, Zhour Mezghiche, an artisan from the town of Hamma Bouziane, explained that the rose and orange blossom waters produced during this process are widely used in cooking to scent pastries and flavor signature Constantinian dishes. They are also essential for ceremonies and celebrations, while rose water is additionally prized for cosmetic use.
Scheduled to run until May 10th, this national-level event brings together 47 artisans. Among them are 25 from Constantine specializing in the distillation of rose and orange blossom water and the extraction of aromatic and medicinal plants, exhibiting the traditional equipment used in these crafts.
The remaining 22 artisans hail from 11 other wilayas across the country, including Ghardaïa, Tizi Ouzou, El Tarf, Bordj Bou Arreridj, and Jijel. They represent various specialties, such as basketry, pottery, coppersmithing, ceramics, beekeeping, and traditional clothing, Mr. Sifer further detailed.
