In a resounding affirmation of Tunisia’s olive oil excellence, the organic extra virgin olive oil brand Triomphe Thuccabor, produced by Domaine Ben Ismail, has been awarded the first prize at the fifth edition of the DIDO International competition. The award ceremony, held on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, in Tunis, marked the opening of the “Célébration de l’olivier 2026” and underscored the growing global stature of Tunisian olive oil.
A Victory Among Record Medals
The 2026 edition of DIDO International was a landmark event for Tunisia. Out of 40 medals distributed to producers from Tunisia, Italy, Algeria, France, and Greece, Tunisian oils alone captured 30 medals, including five Super Gold, 24 Gold, and 11 Silver. The competition, which took place as part of the “Olive Festival 2026,” was organized by the Tunisian Olive Oil Women’s Network and featured tasting sessions in an international laboratory accredited by the International Olive Council and certified ISO 17025, ensuring the credibility of the results.
The crowning moment came when the first prize was awarded to the extra virgin olive oil of Domaine Ben Ismail, located in Toukabeur, Medjez El Bab, in the Béja governorate. The oil is produced by Maher Ben Ismail, a member of the family that has long championed organic olive cultivation in the region.
“A Medicinal Oil” Rooted in Heritage
For Maher Ben Ismail, the recognition is not merely a competition win but a validation of the oil’s unique properties. In remarks to the media, he highlighted that Toukabeur olive oil is rich in antioxidants and is increasingly marketed as a “medicinal oil” on international markets. This aligns with the brand’s reputation for producing high-quality organic oil from the Chetoui variety, cultivated on the family estate in the village of Thuccabor—a name that echoes the historic Triumphal Arch of the region.
Strategic Significance for Tunisian Olive Oil
The brand Triomphe Thuccabor (also rendered as “Triomphe de Toukaber”) is the flagship product of the Réserve Familiale Ben Ismaïl. It has a long history of international acclaim, including gold medals at the Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition, the BIOL ITALIA awards in Italy, and the Dubai Olive Oil Competition. Its victory at DIDO 2026 adds another prestigious chapter to this legacy.
The DIDO International competition is more than a contest; it is a platform for valorizing Tunisian olive oil and facilitating its access to global markets. Saoussen Mourad, president of the Tunisian Olive Oil Women’s Network, emphasized that the results confirm Tunisia’s ability to rival the best oils in the world, particularly those from Italy and Greece. She also pointed to a key competitive advantage: the oil’s capacity to maintain high quality for over 12 months, a crucial factor in demanding international markets.
Mourad further called for greater efforts to promote the country’s olive heritage—which dates back to Carthaginian and Punic civilizations—and to continue participating in international competitions and targeted promotional campaigns. The name DIDO itself is a nod to Didon (Dido), the legendary founder of Carthage, symbolically linking the olive tree to Tunisia’s historical and cultural identity.
Looking Ahead
The 2026 DIDO International victory comes at a time when Tunisia is striving to strengthen its position as a major player in the global organic olive oil market. For Maher Ben Ismail and Domaine Ben Ismail, the first prize is both an honor and a call to action. Ben Ismail has previously urged Tunisian authorities to leverage such successes to promote Tunisian olive oil internationally and to reinforce the country’s standing in the competitive global market.
As the “Célébration de l’olivier 2026” continues with workshops on extraction technology, oleotourism, and commercial strategies, the triumph of Triomphe Thuccabor stands as a testament to the quality, resilience, and heritage of Tunisian olive oil—a product that, as the jury’s verdict confirms, can proudly stand among the world’s fines
TunisianMonitorNews (NejiMed)
