干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

Introduction. The Moroccan oases are well known for the ingenious know-how of their inhabitants in the management and the preservation of natural resources. The date, the main product of the oases, benefits greatly from this ingeniousness, which nevertheless nowadays is less exploited and risks being forgotten. This study aimed at documenting and analyzing the know-how of date juice processing, locally called Tassabount, and at proposing ways of improving it. Materials and methods. The methodology adopted for the documenting work and the analysis of the local knowledge of date juice processing was based on a participatory approach involving one hundred oasis women from Dr a valley (Morocco). Results and discussion. Our study highlighted an ingenious practice in local date processing into juice. This know-how, developed by women living in the oases, is closely related to the genetic diversity of date palm (varieties and hybrids). In addition, the Tassabount is identified as a promising product to valorize, by virtue of its organoleptic and therapeutic qualities. Furthermore, description and analysis of the familial Tassabount process helped find ways to improve it, to be ready to transfer to traditional and/or industrial production.