Moroccan Tea.. Not just a drink!

 

The Moroccan tea or “Atay” in Moroccan language is the national drink in Morocco, and Moroccans are really attached to it more than any other drink in their culture, so, whether in the morning or in the evening, the tea is something that, we Moroccans, cannot imagine our live without it!

The origin of the tea is from China of course, but its presence in Morocco goes back to the 17th century, with the great influence of European merchants, especially the English merchants via Gibraltar, and according to historians the Tea was, in the beginning, a drink for the Sultans and elite of Morocco, but little by lite the magic of the tea spread among the classes of Moroccan society.

But, what makes Moroccan tea different than other kinds of tea, is the way that it’s prepared by, and also the other species of herbs used in its preparation, like Mint (the most famous), Apple Mint, marjoram, lemon verbena, wormwood, etc.. Herbs give the Moroccan tea a special flavor.

The accessories that we introduce the tea with are also very important (Cups, Tea tray, Teapot…), the tea as one of the components of the Moroccan culture differs from region to region in Morocco.

Here is an adorable song about Moroccan tea with mint!