Ibtissam, our host from Fes, invited me to join her for a morning stroll to the market. “This is a tour you won’t forget; I know all the best spots,” she said with a playful grin, raising my excitement. My husband had already warned me when we arrived late the night before that he would be sleeping in, relishing every moment of this laid-back Saturday morning. I had other plans and eagerly accepted this insider’s glimpse into Fes’ ancient medina.

As we wandered through the narrow, winding alleys of the old medina, bathed in the morning light, I followed closely behind Ibtissam and was reminded of childhood memories of holding hands with my mom at our neighbourhood market. Our first stop was the greengrocer, where we picked up some small oblong avocados. “This kind doesn’t have a stone; we use them to make juice with almonds.”. No stone? That sounded like the perfect base for guacamole!

We left with bags filled with ripe quinces, fragrant mint bunches, and aromatic oranges to enjoy with cinnamon for dessert. The spice shop, I’aatar in Arabic, was just a few blocks away. The vibrant displays of spices were mesmerizing. I learned about ras-el-hanout (literally “head of the shop,” meaning the best spices they offer) and how each aatar has its own unique blend. We picked up sachets of tagine essentials: mild chilli, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and ginger. At the next shop, we sampled flavorful olives, large local dates, and dried fruits.

While every Moroccan market showcases these delicious organic products Fez is special with its distinct regional specialities. They can be tricky to find, but fortunately for me, Ibtissam was eager to introduce me to these new flavours.