• Snails at a farm in the village of Sanhaja, Manouba, north-east Tunisia. A higher demand for snails, from restaurants and the cosmetics industry for the mucin they produce, has led to an increase in the number of breeding farms. All photos by EPA
    Snails at a farm in the village of Sanhaja, Manouba, north-east Tunisia. A higher demand for snails, from restaurants and the cosmetics industry for the mucin they produce, has led to an increase in the number of breeding farms. All photos by EPA
  • Rising demand means business is not slow for snail farmer Fadwa Sellami from the village of Sanhaja, Manouba, north-east Tunisia
    Rising demand means business is not slow for snail farmer Fadwa Sellami from the village of Sanhaja, Manouba, north-east Tunisia
  • Snail breeding has become a flourishing business in Tunisia as farms capitalise on demand from restaurants and the beauty industry.
    Snail breeding has become a flourishing business in Tunisia as farms capitalise on demand from restaurants and the beauty industry.
  • Snails sit in a box at a farm in the village of Sanhaja, Manouba, north-east Tunisia. Cosmetic firms want snail mucus rich in Vitamin E, hyaluronic acid and collagen for skincare products.
    Snails sit in a box at a farm in the village of Sanhaja, Manouba, north-east Tunisia. Cosmetic firms want snail mucus rich in Vitamin E, hyaluronic acid and collagen for skincare products.
  • Snail wrangling at a farm in the village of Sanhaja, Manouba, north-east Tunisia. Snails are a feature of dining in many cultures and are appreciated as low cholesterol, high protein delicacies.
    Snail wrangling at a farm in the village of Sanhaja, Manouba, north-east Tunisia. Snails are a feature of dining in many cultures and are appreciated as low cholesterol, high protein delicacies.
  • Snail farmer Fadwa Sellami at her farm in the village of Sanhaja, Manouba, north-east Tunisia.
    Snail farmer Fadwa Sellami at her farm in the village of Sanhaja, Manouba, north-east Tunisia.
  • Snail farmer Fadwa Sellami prepares a batch for shipping. Figures on Tunisian agriculture suggest that about 95 per cent of the snail crop is exported and that farmers, many of them young people, are as adept with IT and marketing as they are with agriculture.
    Snail farmer Fadwa Sellami prepares a batch for shipping. Figures on Tunisian agriculture suggest that about 95 per cent of the snail crop is exported and that farmers, many of them young people, are as adept with IT and marketing as they are with agriculture.
  • Fadwa Sellami extracts mucin from snails at her farm in the village of Sanhaja, Manouba, north-east Tunisia. Snail farming is referred to as heliciculture.
    Fadwa Sellami extracts mucin from snails at her farm in the village of Sanhaja, Manouba, north-east Tunisia. Snail farming is referred to as heliciculture.
  • Snail farmer Fadwa Sellami skims through snails at her farm in the village of Sanhaja, Manouba, Tunisia, 29 May 2022. A higher demand for snails, whether by restaurants or by the beauty industry using the mucin, has led to an increased number of snail breeding farms. EPA / MOHAMED MESSARA
    Snail farmer Fadwa Sellami skims through snails at her farm in the village of Sanhaja, Manouba, Tunisia, 29 May 2022. A higher demand for snails, whether by restaurants or by the beauty industry using the mucin, has led to an increased number of snail breeding farms. EPA / MOHAMED MESSARA

MENA

Demand for Tunisian farmed snails rises - in pictures

The breeding business has been boosted by restaurants and the cosmetics industry

The National

May 30, 2022

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Updated: May 30, 2022, 1:04 PM
TunisiaPhotography