In brief
- Moroccan mint tea, green tea infused with fresh mint and sweetened, a symbol of hospitality in the Maghreb.
- Origin: Morocco, and more broadly the Maghreb (Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania).
- Essential ingredients: Chinese gunpowder green tea, fresh mint, sugar and water.
- Served in three successive rounds, traditionally to welcome a guest.
Origins and cultural history of Moroccan mint tea
Green tea arrived in Morocco in the mid-nineteenth century, around 1854, brought in by British merchants. The Crimean War had just closed off their usual outlets to the Slavic countries, and they were looking for new markets to sell off their stocks of gunpowder green tea, a Chinese tea rolled into small pellets. The ports of Tangier and Essaouira, then called Mogador, became important entry points for this tea.
Moroccans added fresh mint to soften its bitterness, without altering its taste or colour: this combination gave rise to mint tea as we know it today. The preparation ritual, which includes three successive servings from the same leaves, became a strong mark of hospitality across the Maghreb.
What are the essential ingredients of Moroccan mint tea
Moroccan mint tea relies on few ingredients, but their quality and proportions make all the difference.
- Chinese gunpowder green tea
- fresh mint (nana)
- sugar
- water
What to know about the Moroccan mint tea
Moroccan mint tea brings together Chinese gunpowder green tea, fresh mint (nana), sugar and water. It is poured from a height, from one glass to another, which raises a foam on the surface and mixes the sugar and the mint. The same leaves are infused three times in a row, with fresh water for each round, and the first glass is full-bodied. Traditionally served to welcome a guest, it is a symbol of hospitality in the Maghreb.
Frequently asked questions about Moroccan mint tea
Why is mint tea poured from high up?
This gesture, repeated several times from one glass to another, oxygenates the tea and brings a light froth to the surface, a sign that it is ready to serve. It also helps mix the sugar and mint thoroughly through the tea before serving it in the glasses.
Why is mint tea served in three rounds?
The same leaves are infused three times in a row, with fresh water for each round: the first glass is strong, the second more balanced, the third lighter. A Tuareg proverb sums up this tradition: the first glass is gentle as life, the second strong as love, the third bitter as death.
Where to find the ingredients for Moroccan mint tea in France?
NKOSI sells the gunpowder green tea and ships it from the Paris area within 24 to 72 working hours, to mainland France (2 to 3 working days) and to ten European countries. The minimum order is 39 €: in France, delivery to a pickup point is then free, and home delivery is free from 69 €.
