Couscous

Couscous is a traditional North African dish made from small steamed granules of rolled semolina that is historically tracked back to the Berber people of the Maghreb. It has since become a staple food across the Mediterranean and is widely consumed globally as a versatile alternative to rice or pasta.

While the dish is indigenous to North Africa, particularly Morocco and Algeria, the commercial production of couscous is now global. In the modern market, major brands like Tipiak, Ferrero (the grain manufacturer, not the chocolatier), and various supermarket private labels dominate the shelves. Ownership is highly fragmented as couscous is a generic food product produced by numerous agricultural companies and cooperatives rather than belonging to a single corporate entity.