Heritage Spotlight: How Traditional Tile Making Lives On in Maaser El Chouf
In the cedar-draped hills of Maaser El Chouf, Blat El Atiq has been handcrafting terrazzo tiles the same way for generations. Natural mineral pigments, cement, and hand-shaped copper molds are still the tools of the trade here, and every tile is made from scratch.
The process is straightforward but exacting. Once a design is set, a hydraulic press compresses the mixture into 25mm-thick tiles. They’re left to dry, then polished by hand until the surface is smooth. Every step, from pigment mixing to the final finish, is done without shortcuts.
No two tiles come out identical. Slight variations in tone, texture, and pattern are just part of how it works, and honestly part of the appeal. The tiles end up in floors, walls, and mosaic installations across the country.
Blat El Atiq also runs workshops where you can try it yourself. You’ll go through the full process from start to finish, guided by people who’ve been doing this work for years. It’s $10 per tile, and you leave with whatever you make.
For more information, you can reach out via Instagram or +961 3 873 357. For more content like this, check out the #Arts & Culture section on our website.
