Moroccan mint tea

    Moroccan mint tea

    Hot, sweet and refreshing – that’s exactly what Moroccan mint tea is like. You come across this beverage literally everywhere: at street stalls, in doorways and in small tea shops. Interestingly, in Morocco it is most often prepared by men.

    This tea plays a unique role in Moroccan culture. It quenches thirst in the hot climate, accompanies business meetings, and is a symbol of friendship and hospitality. It is most often drunk in silence: with family, friends or invited guests. Traditionally, the host should serve three glasses. As the Moroccan saying goes: “The first one has the power of love, the second one – the bitterness of life, the third one – the sweetness of death.” The quantity of sugar used also has a meaning. The more the sugar, the greater the affection the host has for the guests.

    How to prepare Moroccan tea?

    Brewing takes place in teapots with a capacity of about 1 litre that frequently feature oriental ornaments. You need to put three teaspoons of green tea in the pot, most often Gunpowder tea, whose leaves are curled up into small balls resembling gunpowder. The leaves are covered with a small amount of boiling water which is removed after a while. In this way the leaves open up and lose their bitterness.

    Next, fresh mint is added to the pot along with a lot of sugar (even 5 teaspoons per glass!) and then the teapot is filled almost to the top with boiling water. The pot needs to be covered with a lid and slightly shaken so that the ingredients mix well. After about 5 minutes the infusion is ready, although some Moroccans brew it longer, or even slightly boil it. What is most important is that the guests enjoy its taste.

    Serving ceremony

    Moroccan tea is served in small decorative glasses. The way of pouring it is extremely characteristic: starting low, the teapot is raised higher and higher so that the stream of tea creates an impressive arch. In this way the beverage cools down a bit, and a delicate foam is formed on the surface, known as the “turban.”