Tunisia is one of the world’s largest olive oil producers — but you’ll rarely see it mentioned on a label

Tunisia has been making olive oil for nearly three millennia. This year, it’s projected to be the world’s second-largest producer. Yet you’d struggle to find anything labelled Tunisian oil in supermarkets outside the country.

For a new generation of independent producers, this disparity is the result of a model that should have been challenged years ago. Sarah Ben Romdane, the founder of organic extra virgin olive oil brand KAÏA, is among those determined to prove there’s a better way. “In Tunisia, we say there are more olive trees than Tunisians,” she told CNN. “Every family has a history with olive oil — mine was the first in the country to export it to the US. But it’s also the miracle grandma’s natural remedy for curing sickness, hydrating your skin, and of course, tasting great in meals.“Unfortunately, our country has been disconnected from this deeply personal relationship we had with our land and its fruits.” The 2025/2026 season saw 86% of Tunisian olive oil exports sold in bulk for bottling under foreign labels, according to local producer OLYFO — the three biggest markets being in Spain, Italy and the US. Don’t expect to see a “made in Tunisia” stamp: these bulk imports are mostly bottled in those countries, mixed with local olive oils. EU regulations only require vague origin statements like “blend of olive oils of European Union origin and not of European Union origin.” Labels in the US can also make it hard to distinguish the place of import, production and harvest — which can all be different. As a result, Tunisia is often reduced to a budget supplier, its quality is ignored, and its role in the global market undervalued, according to Ben Romdane. “Our olive oil is some of the best in the world, and these stereotypes are the result of an injustice imposed by foreigners on us,” she said. “I wanted a brand like KAÏA to challenge it.”