{{Short description|North African dish}} thumb|right|Tunisian bsisa of Msaken with grilled wheat, olive oil and dried fruits '''Bsisa''' ({{Langx|ar|بسيسة}}, Berber ''aḍemmin'', also known as '''bsissa''', is a fine powder made from roasted barley and legumes, typical in North African cuisine, prepared and served either as a paste or drink. It dates back to Pharos times.<ref>Cp. Vermondo Brugnatelli, "Elementi per uno studio dell'alimentazione nelle regioni berbere", in: D. Silvestri, A. Marra, I. Pinto (a c. di), ''Saperi e sapori mediterranei. La cultura dell'alimentazione e i suoi riflessi linguistici (Napoli, 13-16 ottobre 1999)'', Napoli, 2002, vol. III, pp. 1067–1089.</ref><ref>Rula Attia, "Tunisian Bsisa", {{cite web|url=http://recipes-for-food.com/tunisian-bsisa/ |title=Tunisian Bsisa |access-date=2014-02-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225083129/http://recipes-for-food.com/tunisian-bsisa/ |archive-date=2014-02-25 }}]</ref><ref name="boukid2021">{{cite book |last1=Boukid |first1=Fatma |title=Cereal-Based Foodstuffs: The Backbone of Mediterranean Cuisine |date=19 April 2021 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-3-030-69228-5 |page=118 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Cereal_Based_Foodstuffs_The_Backbone_of/t3MqEAAAQBAJ?gbpv=1&pg=PA118 |access-date=17 March 2026 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="BBC2022">{{cite news |title=Bsissa: North Africa's ancient convenience food |url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20220130-bsissa-north-africas-newest-breakfast-trend |access-date=5 March 2026 |work=BBC |date=31 January 2022}}</ref><ref name="newarab">{{cite news |title="البسيسة" غذاء الرعاة الأفارقة وحلوى بداية النهار |url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/%22%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B3%D8%A9%22-%D8%BA%D8%B0%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%82%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%88%D9%89-%D8%A8%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B1 |access-date=14 September 2025 |work=The New Arab |date=7 May 2015 |language=ar-AR |trans-title="Bsisa" is the food of African shepherds and the dessert of the beginning of the day.}}</ref> Its history goes back a long way, and travellers and nomads used to take bsisa with them on their journeys since it was both full of nutritional value and easy to carry in its ground powder form.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}}
== Ingredients == Bsisa is a variety of mixtures of roasted cereals ground with various spices and sugar. The herbs and spices that are added to the mixture can vary,<ref name="FAO">{{cite news |title=Food Heroes detail {{!}} World Food Day {{!}} Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |url=https://www.fao.org/world-food-day/food-heroes/detail/asma-rouissi/en |access-date=14 September 2025 |work=WorldFoodDay |agency=Food and Agriculture Organization |language=en}}</ref> and the mixtures can also be used as a liquid when added to milk or water, creating a strongly floured drink called ''rowina''.
== Regional varieties ==
In Palestinian cuisine, bsisa is made with carob juice, olive oil, wheat flour, and nuts.<ref>{{cite news |title="البسيسة" زوادة الحج الفلسطينية |url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/%22%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B3%D8%A9%22-%D8%B2%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%AC-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9 |access-date=5 March 2026 |work=The New Arab |language=ar |trans-title="Basisa" is a Palestinian Hajj provision}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=الأكلات الشعبية |url=https://info.wafa.ps/pages/details/29810 |access-date=5 March 2026 |work=WAFA |language=ar |trans-title=National foods}}</ref>
== Customs == thumb|Jewish bsisa ceremony
It is eaten by Tunisian and Libyan Muslims<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mangeonsbien.com/savoir-plus/le-saviez-vous/bsissa-mets-rassasiant-vertus/ | title=La "bsissa" : Un mets rassasiant aux multiples vertus | date=19 February 2019 }}</ref> and Jews on various occasions.
Jews consume it especially on the first day of the Hebrew month of Nisan as this is the day the Mishkan (tabernacle) was erected (in this case, the food is named ''bsiset el-marquma'' or simply bsisa).<ref>Cp. Mordekhai Cohen, ''Gli ebrei in Libia. Usi e costumi'', translated and annotated by Martino Mario Moreno, Firenze, Giuntina, 1994, p. 81-82. {{ISBN|978-88-85943-95-7}}</ref> The food is powder that consists of wheat and barley, which represents the mortar used to build the Mishkan. Additionally, the mother of the household puts her gold ring into the bsisa, recalling the gold that was also used in the building of the Mishkan. Before eating the bsisa, the father of the household blesses in Arabic while he mixes the bsisa with oil using the key to his house, recalling the oil used in the Mishkan. <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.temehu.com/Libyan-food.htm#bsisa |title=''Bsisa'' |access-date=2010-11-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806045021/http://www.temehu.com/Libyan-food.htm#bsisa |archive-date=2011-08-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This symbolizes the "opening" of the 'new year' The father and family recite in turn:
''Ya fetach,''<br /> ''Bla Neftach,''<br /> ''Arzekna warzek menna''<br /> ''Ya atai,''<br /> ''Bla mena!''
== Notes == <references />
== See also == * Tsampa, a similar Tibetan staple * Arab cuisine * Cuisine of Tunisia * Cuisine of Libya * Cuisine of the Sephardic Jews
{{Jewish baked goods}} {{African cuisine}}
Category:Arab cuisine Category:Moroccan cuisine Category:African cuisine Category:Mediterranean cuisine Category:Tunisian cuisine Category:Libyan cuisine {{Tunisia-cuisine-stub}} {{Libya-stub}} {{Jewish-cuisine-stub}} Category:Sephardi Jewish cuisine Category:Jews and Judaism in Tunisia Category:Jews and Judaism in Libya Category:Palestinian cuisine