Best way to prepare Moroccan mint tea

Anyone who has traveled to Morocco would have tried the flavorful mint tea. It is a permanent staple of Moroccan and Amazigh cuisine across North Africa. The drink is served almost anytime of the day; before a meal or after, at breakfast, lunch, or after dinner. Anytime is a good time for a cup of fresh mint tea. If you go into a Moroccan house, the first thing being offered is a fresh tea pot of tea, you ask for it or not, it will still be served, and it is considered impolite to not partake. If it is not freshly made, something or someone is unwelcome!

The tea has its own health benefits from mint helping with digestion after a heavy meal, the known anti-oxidants benefits of green tea, or just to setting up appetite and stomach for a coming meal.

Preparing tea in Morocco is an art often trusted upon an experienced cook, likely the head of household. At ceremonies, a good cup of tea is synonymous with a good time and joyous environment. You would see a lot of attention being given to prepare a good pot of fresh mint tea. However, don’t let that intimidate you into thinking it is hard.

The reason it is given such attention is not because it is hard; but because people love to make it, and give it as much love, just like Italians love to bake pizza or prepare a good pasta with love as they say. It is a ceremony, and people feel honored to serve their guests the best they good. A tradition deeply rooted in the Amazigh way of life.

It is actually straightforward to prepare a decent cup of min tea. The main ingredients you need is gun powder green tea (this is a popular brand on Amazon), a handful branches with leaves of fresh mint tea, and lots of sugar. Now, don’t mess up with the tea and make it without sugar, it really defeats the purpose. The sweetness of sugar, freshness of mint, and sourness of boiled gun powder green tea is what makes it worth the extra time and gives it its unique taste, just like Indian chai. It is the way it is, so don’t fret about the extra calories of sugar!

All you need to do is boil a liter of water in a pot (saucepan are best if you don’t have a tea pot), add 2 table spoons of green tea to boiled water and let it boil until a foam rises, then quickly take away the pot from the heat, add fresh mint and 3-4 table spoons of sugar. Serve hot in small cups, and enjoy a delight treat.

Source: http://www.amazighmarket.com/2020-07-28-689