Moroccan Mint Tea: More than just a beverage

In Morocco, preparing and serving tea is a sacred ritual that represents culture, hospitality and friendship. The most popular tea in the country is Moroccan mint tea, also called Maghreb or Touareg mint tea. It is prepared using green tea leaves to a smooth and sweet consistency. Maghreb mint tea is also popular in other parts of North Africa such as Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, and Mauritania.

How to make Moroccan mint tea


To prepare Moroccan mint tea, simply mix green tea leaves and mint, which can also be bought premixed in a dried combination.  For basic Touareg mint tea recipe, follow the following steps:

1.  Bring to boil, a half litre of water in a teapot
2. Add two teaspoons of green tea leaves (gunpowder tea is the best). Let it steep for at least 15 minutes
3. Filter the mixture into a different teapot to separate the leaves and course powder
4. If you like sweet tea, add only a few lumps of sugar. Maghreb tea is normally sweet, so you require just a little sugar
5. Bring the water to boil again and remove it to add fresh mint leaves into the teapot. Remove the fresh mint in two minutes
6. As you pour into the glasses, hold the tea pot high to create a foam that enhances its flavours.

Traditionally, Maghreb mint tea is served in small cups or glass vessels three times. Its flavour varies from bitter, to sweet and gentle as described this famous Maghrebi saying:

“Le premier verre est aussi doux que la vie,    The first glass is as gentle as life,

 le deuxième est aussi fort que l’amour,            the second is as strong as love,

 le troisième est aussi amer que la mort,          the third is as bitter as death”

Benefits of Moroccan mint tea

Apart from being a delicious beverage, Maghreb mint tea has numerous health benefits. Here’s are top benefits of taking the tea:

• The tea is good for your digestive system: It relaxes stomach muscles and aids in production of digestive juices
• It helps calm and relax your mind thereby reducing stress and anxiety
• It is a natural breath freshener
• It packed with cancer fighting antioxidants
• Moroccan tea strengthens the cardiovascular system
• Aroma from the tea is soothing and can help relieve nausea, fever and cough when inhaled

Other countries in Africa such as Senegal also reveres the tea culture. Their tea, called ataaya, is prepared using the same ingredients as Moroccan mint tea. Senegalese tea culture, just like that of Morocco, involves three servings with varying sweetness representative of life, love and death.

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