November 17, 2020
Traditional Moroccan Tea
In Morocco when someone pours you a cup of mint tea, you might just hear a little chuckle as they lift the silver teapot high into the air and tell you’re about to taste Moroccan whiskey.
Alcohol is prohibited in Muslim culture and as such, many Moroccans abstain from drinking it. Instead, they prefer to ceremoniously pour their beverage of choice: steaming hot, sweet mint tea. This isn’t just any herbal tea. Mint tea is prepared in a way that makes you travel back in time.
To master partaking in this ritual, you must lift the teapot at least a foot above your cup to pour it, therefore creating a foamy layer of micro bubbles along the top of your tea. Just when you’re about to lift the glass to your lips, you’ll be beckoned to put the glass down. This same technique of pouring the tea from the teapot to the glass and then back again into the tea pot must be repeated at least five times. They say it helps to mix the blend of fresh mint leaves, dried leaves, and often times some added green tea.
Pictured below is Mohamed, Zohra, and their son Ismael, who raha roho works very closely with. Meet the family that owns the carpet cooperative we work with. Despite the language barrier, they were generous and gracious hosts who found humour as a way to connect with me. Minutes after I arrived in this small town, I was beckoned into this home where we shared delicious mint tea and French deserts.
The sharing of mint tea can be found all over the country of Morocco. It doesn't matter if you’re in the middle of the busiest souk in Marrakech, or like the above photo, in remote areas of the Mid Atlas mountains, you will always have the opportunity to share community over mint tea.
Fresh Like Mint