How to make Moroccan Mint Tea

Moroccan teapot and painted glasses, purchased in Tangiers

When we spent a day in Morocco, one of the most peaceful moments was when we went to a cafe at Africa's northern-most point, and enjoyed a glass of mint tea. I had heard of mint tea before, but didn't realize how delicious and refreshing it would be. Ours was served in the morning, with a small pancake covered in argan oil, almonds, and honey. It was a sweet and surprisingly energizing snack! And it turns out that the tea is very easy to make! I bought a Moroccan tea set while we were in Tangiers, and have been enjoying an afternoon tea ceremony with my daughter after school some days as a mother-daughter treat.

musical performance at a Moroccan tea house, mint tea on the table

Tea is popular in many Muslim countries, where alcohol is not publicly sold or consumed. So tea houses take the place of bars, and an afternoon tea ceremony is a traditional way for men to get together and enjoy conversation. Traditionally, three cups of tea are served, and the mint leaves are left in the pot the whole time, so the first glass has a weak flavor, while the last glass is the strongest.

RECIPE:
1 bag of green tea, plain, any brand
Fresh mint leaves
Honey

Moroccan mint tea is essentially green tea, brewed with fresh mint leaves (spearmint, not peppermint), and lots of honey. To make your own, boil water and steep a bag of green tea for several minutes. If you have a good teapot, you could boil the water directly in the teapot, but this recipe assumes you are boiling your water on the stove in a saucepan, or in the microwave. (Note: this is not the traditional authentic preparation, so I use a green tea bag instead of whole tea leaves. This makes it convenient and easy to do at home, and still tastes great.) You can either use whole mint leaves, and muddle them to release some oils, or you can coarsely chop the mint leaves. Throw the fresh leaves into the tea. Add honey to taste. The Moroccans like their tea VERY sweet, so to achieve similar flavor, use several Tablespoons per serving. Stir until the honey is dissolved. Then pour the whole concoction into a teapot to keep it warm.

Pour yourself a small glass of the sweet mint tea. (I notice that in my Moroccan teapot, the leaves are automatically strained out when I pour. You can enjoy it with or without the leaves in the glass.) Sip and enjoy. Close your eyes and imagine this scene: the sound of the waves where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea; a short lighthouse built in the 1800's by a French architect; the smell of jasmine flowers stirred by the strong ocean breeze; the warm sun on your skin; the sweet refreshing tea on your tongue. If you never make it to Africa, this can be a pleasant experience anywhere!