Learn the art and ceremony of Moroccan Mint Tea

We first discovered the delights of Moroccan mint tea while traveling through North Africa’s dusty back streets and ancient medinas in search of authentic zellij – the hand-cut tile work for which Morocco is so famous. Our idea was to locate sources for mosaic tables and meet local zelligeurs, master craftsmen who create these intricate mosaics by cutting tiny shapes from glazed terra cotta tiles. But, before we could find out anything about mosaic tables, we found ourselves learning a different Moroccan tradition: the art and ceremony of Moroccan mint tea.

Morocco’s refreshing tradition

As any visitor to Morocco soon discovers, you never do business until you’ve first sealed your friendship with a steaming glass of hot mint tea. Shopkeepers entice you to pause for tea before the real bargaining begins. Oriental rug merchants unfurl their masterpieces while you sit at a small mosaic tables sipping the sweet tea. And zelligeurs explain the intricacies of their hand-cut mosaic tile work only after you’ve shared greetings and stories over small glasses of the minty refreshment. It’s a wonderful way to do business. And, in a land celebrated for its hospitality to travelers, a visiting American can easily sip his way through a dozen or more glasses in a single day.

The height of hospitality

Moroccan hosts are understandably proud of their national drink, and often serve the tea with great flourish. They start by holding the long spout of the teapot quite close to your glass, but then quickly lift the teapot to dizzying heights as the sweet liquid streams down into your glass. As a foreign guest, you may well be offered the honor of pouring the tea yourself. Everyone will laugh to see how high you can hold the pot without splashing tea and mint leaves all over yourself and your host. Moroccans are a warm, welcoming people, and a glass of tea is all it takes to make friends.

Our recipe for Moroccan mint tea

But how is the tea itself made? The ingredients are simple, but the preparation isn’t. You will need green tea, mint, sugar, and quite a bit of practice. Here’s what to do:

First, warm your teapot pot – by pouring in a little boiling water, swirling it around inside the pot, and then pouring it back out.

Now add green tea – you should add enough to make a good strong pot of tea. Three teaspoons of Chinese gunpowder tea is a good rule of thumb for an average sized teapot.

Rinse the tea - pour a little boiling water into the pot, swirl it around, and quickly pour it back out again. Not everyone does this, but it’s said to remove any bitterness from the tea. Just make sure you don’t pour out the tea itself when you pour off the water.

Add your mint – we recommend 10-12 sprigs of fresh mint; but if you don’t have any mint in your garden, you can substitute 2 teaspoons of dried mint leaves. You can choose peppermint, spearmint, or create you own private blend by mixing the two.

Add sugar – About 1/3 cup should do. Moroccans like their tea very sweet, but you can add to taste.

Now fill the pot with boiling water – and let it steep for at least five minutes.

Strain the tea – if your teapot does not have a built in strainer, you will want to strain the tea before serving. You can do this by simply holding a small sieve over each glass as you pour the tea.

Serve in small slender glasses – never cups or mugs. When you bring out the tea to serve your guests, first fill one glass with tea, and then pour it back into the pot. Now do it again. This helps to mix the sugar in the tea. Now you’re ready to serve your Moroccan mint tea. Remember to lift the teapot high above each glass as you pour. This not only makes the tradition complete, but creates the desired froth at the top of each glass of tea.

The finishing touch – add a small sprig of mint in each glass for garnish.

Making friends with mint tea

The tea is absolutely refreshing and delicious, but really it’s just an excuse to linger and spend time with good friends. After the day’s work is done, friends will sit for hours at small bistro tables along sidewalk cafés – chatting, watching the street life pass by, and sipping their Moroccan mint tea. Hoteliers serve tea on colorful mosaic tables in the courtyards of their riads. And at home, hospitality always begins with a glass for each guest. [Click here to return to Ideas]