In the heart of Tunisia, restaurant owner Wahida Dridi is busy preparing iftar, the meal that breaks the daily fast during Ramadan. Instead of the usual red meat dishes, she washes and boils snails—an increasingly popular and affordable protein alternative for many Tunisians struggling with skyrocketing food prices.
“They are boiled first, then removed from the water, which can then be used to cook pasta or vermicelli,” she explains. “Snails are very delicious and have many benefits.”
The price of beef has soared to $18 per kilogram, making it out of reach for many families. Meanwhile, snails cost half as much at around $9 per kilogram, making them a go-to protein source amid Tunisia’s worst economic crisis in decades.
Once considered a niche delicacy, snails are now a staple at local markets, sold alongside meat and vegetables in towns like Akouda. Demand has surged, with many buyers turning to them not just out of necessity but also by choice.
“Snails are better for cooking than lamb,” says Mohammed, a resident of Akouda. “If lamb costs $19, a bowl of snails is only $1.60. Plus, they are medicinal because they feed on rosemary and thyme.”
The growing demand has also created an unexpected lifeline for Tunisia’s unemployed. In the muddy fields outside Akouda, 29-year-old Kamal spends hours collecting snails—a job that now sustains him and many other young people in the region.
“Many young people from our area work in this field now,” he says. “It’s profitable, beneficial, and in high demand.”
As Tunisia grapples with economic hardship, snails have become more than just a Ramadan dish. They represent survival—both for families struggling to afford food and for the young Tunisians turning to snail harvesting as a source of income in a country with one of the highest unemployment rates in the region.
