Mint tea is practically a ritual in Marrakesh.
After the painstakingly long queues at the airport, you finally arrive at your riad.
At this point, you’re feeling lightly overwhelmed and dishevelled.
The manager of the riad gives you the warmest welcome and guides you into the beautiful courtyard.
You sit down on the colourful cushions, listening to the gentle sound of the trickling water from the fountain and smell the fragrance of blossom on the trees.
Slowly, you begin to unwind.
The manager reappears with an ornate teapot with colourful glasses on a tray, accompanied by a dish of fresh olives.
The tea is poured, holding the teapot higher and higher.
This is a traditional Morroccan greeting for visitors. The higher up the teapot is held, the more respect the guest is being shown.
The tea also becomes aerated, making it cooler to drink.
You watch with amazement as the tea finds its way perfectly into the little glasses without a single drop spilling out.
It takes practice to perfect pouring tea from such a height, I have tried and failed miserably.
The aroma from the fresh mint leaves begins to fill the air around you.
Soon, you are feeling refreshed and accustomed to your new surroundings.
After you have drank your sweet tea and eaten the delicious fresh olives, the panic of trying to locate the riad and queues at the airport disappear as if by magic.
The image of Google Maps not working and dragging your luggage through narrow alleyways crammed with tourists starts to become a distant memory.
Mint tea is served everywhere in Marrakech.
It’s a refreshing drink that the locals enjoy as they sit inside cafes chatting with their friends.
I highly recommend 1112 Moroccan Tea House. They serve wonderful tea, and there is a room telling you all about the history of the tea.
It’s situated inside a beautiful riad, and it’s the first Moroccan tea house in Marrakech.
I’ve also written a separate article about 1112 Moroccan Tea House.
Drinking mint tea is a central part of Moroccan social life.
The name for mint tea is ‘atay’ in Moroccan darija
It is known by the locals as ‘Morroccan Whisky’
The tea is made using gunpowder green tea and fresh mint leaves, and it is often sweetened with sugar cubes before serving.
If you find it a bit too sweet, ask to have the sugar cubes separately.
That way, you have control over how sweet it is.
Fresh mint is displayed on market stalls all around the medina, and the strong aroma is evident when you walk past.
You can purchase the ornate tea glasses in the souks, along with the traditional teapots, they make the perfect gift for taking home with you.
Make sure to wrap them well as they are quite delicate and can break easily.
Moroccan mint tea has many health benefits.
It improves digestion, helps to improve oral health, is a natural decongestant, and provides antioxidants that support good mental well-being, skincare, and alertness.
Sipping mint tea overlooking the lively square from a rooftop is a nice way to experience Marrakech.
It’s a big part of a fascinating culture.
One you will remember for a very long time.
Sounds Of The Souks 