If Kolkata has bhaanr-er chaa, Kashmir has dry fruits Kahwa, and Japan has matcha; then Morocco has its mint tea. The idea of an elaborate tea ceremony was the result of progressing trade and developing cultural aesthetics. Today, the Moroccan tea ceremony is something so deeply engrained in the cultural fabric of the city that it is a great miss if you visit the place and don’t end up experiencing the same. Today, we check out what the Moroccan tea ceremony is all about.
For making tea, the Moroccans focus only on three things – fresh flavours, good quality mint leaves, and a practiced brewing process. These ensure that the tea taste is unforgettable and you come back for more.
The crux of the tea making ceremony lies in choosing the perfect and aromatic Chinese gunpowder green tea, white sugar cubes or cones, purified water for brewing, and the careful selection of traditional tea-making and serving vessels. These come tightly rolled, with fresh intact (not broken) leaves. While some places use regular green tea, the gunpowder variety is the most popular one. The classic combination called atay b’nana is that of tea, sugar and mint leaves. But sometimes each household bring their variation by introducing flavours like sage, lemon, spearmint etc.
If you thought that picking and serving the tea was an art, then wait for the brewing process. It needs practice and precision to make the tea perfect and flavourful. First, loose gunpowder tea leaves are measured. Boiling water is poured over the measured leaves to clean it. This water is then discarded. Along with the tea, add mint leaves and sugar. Fill the pot with boiling water and let it brew for 3-5 minutes on low heat. Over-boiling will induce bitterness in the taste, so keep the timings between 3-5 minutes only.
Once the tea is prepared, pour it from a height, about 12-18 inches into the serve glass. This is one of the classic features of serving tea. This pouring makes it look aesthetic. Long strands of tea falling gently onto the serve ware looks beautiful. It also creates slight foam on top which feels nice to cut through while drinking the tea.
Keeping modern health and culinary trends in mind, newer flavours like citrus or rose are induced. Moreover, sugar is often replaces with honey or fat-free sweetener. Tea is not just a drink in Morocco. It is a symbol of respect, warmth and hospitality. Whether it is a friend’s house, a curbside stall or a fine-dining restaurant, the art of making and serving Mororccan tea is unparalleled. It is the perfect way to start a conversation or the apt way to end a meal due to its medicinal and digestive properties.
For more updates, join/follow our WhatsApp, Telegram and YouTube channels.