Morocco's best loved drink needed its own blog post

Morocco's famous mint tea is enjoyed by every Moroccan - from toddlers to pensioners. Not only is it delicious but is a part of Moroccan culture that has become a symbol of hospitality. 

How Is Moroccan Mint Tea Prepared?

Moroccan mint tea is easy to prepare, which is lucky considering how much it's consumed. This means a lot of tourists who visit Morocco, or have tasted Moroccan tea like to create their own versions at home. If you are one of them, you will need just four ingredients: green tea, mint leaves, sugar and water. 

Traditionally, Moroccan mint tea is made in a berrad, which is a metal engraved teapot. Place the berrad or regular tea pot on the stove, bring the water to the boil and then add the green tea and sugar. Let it boil for around 2 minutes, add the mint leaves, and remove the pot from the heat. Leave the mint leaves to steep in the tea pot for 10 minutes to exude more flavour. If you'd like to experiment with different flavours, other popular components of mint tea include lemon verbena, orange blossom water, sage, honey, turbinado sugar (with hints of caramel), thyme and geranium. 

Before serving to family or guests, pour a first cup to test the flavour. To achieve foaming or frothing on the top layer of the tea, Moroccans lift the berrad high in the air to pour into the tea cup. The foam is called rizza, or sometimes kashkousha. 

If you have achieved a foaming top and a golden colour, you have mastered the art of Moroccan mint tea! 

Moroccan Mint Tea & Traditions

To welcome guests into their home, Moroccan households serve Moroccan mint tea and a plate of sweets. This offers them a chance to get to know, catch up or socialise with guests. This tradition has been passed down through generations, and is symbolic of how highly regarded hospitality is in not only Morocco but other countries in North Africa and the Middle East who are also mostly Arab. 

The tea is served from a berrad, poured into glass tea cups and carried through to the sitting room on a large tray, often made from silver or silver-plated. It is served to guests no matter the time of day. 

Something you may not know is that Moroccan mint tea is sometimes even served in shops to attract customers. A little goes a long way in this respect, and you'd be surprised about the boost in sales it can achieve. 

If you haven't tried Moroccan mint tea yet, don't hesitate. Have a go at making your own version here and share your creations with us on Instagram!