Moroccan Tea Guide

Tea’s position as the country’s most beloved beverage has never been challenged. Today, Morocco's famous sweet mint tea—green tea steeped with lots of spearmint—has become symbolic not only of Moroccan cuisine but also of Moroccan hospitality and culture. Many families serve the markedly sweet beverage several times a day with or without food, and both drop-in and invited company can expect to be offered tea as a welcoming gesture. Tradition once required drinking three glasses, and there is a saying about this that sometimes gets attributed to the desert region.

While the Moroccan tradition of honoring the guest may be rooted in Islamic etiquette, Moroccans are renowned for elevating that standard of hospitality to an exceptional level. As such, even new acquaintances and unexpected guests will be encouraged to drink glass after glass of tea (to avoid offending the host, it's wise to oblige!), and then pressed to stay on for a full meal.

Although tea making in the West is usually simple, in Morocco the process is a bit more involved. Moroccan tea ritual is not as simple as boiling water and dunking tea bags. No, not at all. Making Moroccan tea is an art and a skill that is learned over time.