Moroccan Mint Tea – Recipe and History

Want to know more about Moroccan Mint Tea? Here’s a recipe with all the ingredients, and how to make authentic Moroccan mint tea at home.

It’s easy, refreshing and fun to make if you have friends over or if you just want to enjoy a nice cup of tea.

Moroccan Tea is an integral part of Moroccan cuisine and food, and it can be served for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even between the meals.

Normally, the kitchen department is dominated by women in Morocco, but preparation of tea is typically something that is performed by men. Being invited for a cup of tea is customary and represents generosity and hospitality. 

Moroccan Mint Tea

Moroccan Mint Tea

Traditional Moroccan Mint Tea made with fresh spearmint leaves, and Gunpowder green tea leaves.
It's an integral part of the daily life of Morocco, and it's easy to make at home as well.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine Morocco
Servings 2 to 4 Servings
Calories 44 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon gunpowder green tea leaves
  • 1 large handful of fresh spearmint leaves
  • 1- liter water about 4.2 cups
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons sugar

Instructions
 

  • Boil the water until it's fully boiling
  • Add the gunpowder green tea leaves to the pot. Add 2 dl (1 cup) of boiling water and swirl it until the pot gets warm. Rinse the water and keep the leaves in the pot.
  • Pour the rest of your boiling water and let it be for 2-3 minutes.
  • Add sugar and fresh spearmint leaves and stir
  • Let it steep for 3-5 minutes
  • When finished, you can either stir the pot, or do the traditional way of pouring the tea into a cup, and empty the cup back into the pot
  • Serve in a Moroccan tea glass or other heat-protected glass

Notes

It's recommended to use a Moroccan teapot, which already has a strainer inside. However, if you don't have one of these, you can use a regular pot with a small strainer.
Moroccan mint tea is quite sweet compared to other types of tea, so if you prefer a less-sweet version, it's recommended to reduce the amount of sugar.
If you want to get a nice foam on top, you should use a traditional teapot from Morocco, and pour the tea into a glass from high above.
Feel free to decorate the glasses with fresh mint or other herbs to add additional flavor and a nicer presentation. Geranium, Sage, and Verbena are some commonly used herbs to add a nice aromatic flavor.
Recipe by Gourmand Trotter

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 44kcalCarbohydrates: 11gSugar: 11g
Keyword mint tea, Moroccan cuisine, Moroccan Mint Tea, Morocco, Tea
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The Moroccan Teapot, glasses, and tray

Every traditional Moroccan tea service will include a traditional teapot, glasses with decorations as well as a tray. Every family usually owns several of these sets, and they come in a wide range of decorations and colors. 

They can also be of simple fashion, or very elegant for ceremonious occasions and celebrations. 

Moroccan tea service
Photo: picturepartners/shutterstock

What is Moroccan mint tea good for?

Mint is said to be able to relieve symptoms of indigestion and IBS by relaxing the muscles around the intestine. It also acts as an antioxidant, which protects the body from free radicals.

Furthermore, mint can also make it easier to breathe and help to unblock respiratory airways. It can relieve the symptoms of flu and colds due to its cooling effect. Mint also contains various vitamins as well as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, and folic acid.

Is there caffeine in Moroccan mint tea?

Moroccan mint tea is made with Green tea, which contains about half of the caffeine in a regular cup of coffee.

chinese gunpowder green tea
Photo: marekuliasz/Shutterstock

The history of Moroccan Mint Tea

According to local tradition, it’s customary to offer tea to any visitor in Morocco. The most commonly used type of tea is Chinese Gunpowder green tea, which is steeped with mint leaves.

The tradition is believed to date back to the 12th century B.C and the Phoenicians, but some claim that it was the Berber people who brought it from China originally. Some other sources claim that it didn’t become a tradition until the 18th century. 

However, it can with certainty be said that tea has been an integral part of Moroccan society for at least a couple of hundred years. The Moroccan mint tea represents generosity and hospitality, and as a tourist, you can be assured that Moroccans will offer you this treat. 

It can be served at any time of the day, and most Moroccans will drink several cups per day. Since alcohol is forbidden, it has even gained the status as the national drink of Morocco. Sometimes, it’s being referred to as “Berber Whiskey”.  

Mint tea from Morocco
Photo: Goran Bogicevic/Shutterstock

What type of mint is used in Moroccan Tea?

The most common type of mint used in Moroccan tea is Mentha spicata, which is a type of spearmint. It’s important that you use fresh spearmint leaves in order to get the full aroma. Dried peppermint leaves will not give the same intense flavor. 


Do you have your own recipe for making Moroccan mint tea? Leave a comment below!