In Morocco, mint tea is much more than a drink. It is a sign of welcome, a reason to stop and talk, and a ritual that accompanies business, family visits and long conversations. During your stay in Agadir, you will be offered tea in shops, homes, cafés and on many tours. Here is what lies behind the glass.
A short history
Green tea arrived in Morocco through trade with Europe, and it became popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. Moroccans combined it with fresh mint and sugar, creating a drink that spread to every corner of the country and across North Africa and the Sahara. Today, Morocco is one of the world’s largest importers of green tea, mostly Chinese gunpowder tea.
The ingredients
- Green tea: usually Chinese gunpowder tea, with tightly rolled leaves.
- Fresh mint: spearmint is the classic choice. In winter, other herbs such as wormwood (chiba) or verbena may be added.
- Sugar: traditionally a lot of it, broken from a sugar loaf. Many cafés now let you choose.
The ritual
Tea is traditionally prepared by the host in a silver or metal teapot and served on a tray with small decorated glasses. The tea is poured from high above the glass to create a foam on top, a sign of a well-made tea. The host may pour a glass and return it to the pot several times to mix the tea and sugar.
A well-known saying describes three glasses of tea: the first is gentle like life, the second strong like love, and the third bitter like death. In practice, you may be served several glasses as the tea becomes stronger.
Etiquette tips
- Accept tea when offered if you can; it is a gesture of friendship. If you really do not want it, a polite thank you is fine.
- Accepting tea in a shop does not oblige you to buy anything, though it is polite to show interest.
- Hold the glass by the rim or the bottom: it is very hot.
- You can ask for less sugar (“shwiya sukkar“) or no sugar (“bla sukkar“).
How to make Moroccan mint tea at home
- Rinse a teapot with boiling water. Add about 1 to 2 teaspoons of gunpowder green tea.
- Pour in a small glass of boiling water, swirl and pour it out. This first rinse removes bitterness and dust. Some people keep the first glass and add it back later.
- Add a large handful of fresh mint and sugar to taste.
- Fill the teapot with boiling water and let it steep for a few minutes on low heat.
- Pour a glass and return it to the pot two or three times to mix.
- Serve from a height to make foam, and enjoy with friends.
Where to enjoy tea in and around Agadir
Try mint tea with a view at a café on the beachfront, in the squares of Taroudant, or by the river in Paradise Valley. Our hammam experience also begins with a calming herbal tea.
For more local flavours, read our guide to the Moroccan dishes to try in Agadir.
