Or maybe you're more cup of coffee? There’s something for everyone, you’ll tell me! And why not both! A good cup of coffee in the morning to start the day, and then a good glass of mint tea to relax, after a good day of work... Hot drink originating from the Maghreb, mint tea is consumed there on average 3 times a day. It punctuates the day of adults but also that of the youngest…
To prepare the famous mint tea , there is a whole ritual. While the water is boiling, on a silver tray ( siniyya ) , we place the metal teapot called “ berrad ”, the glasses, the sugar and the tea. This hot drink, present throughout North Africa, is prepared from gunpowder green tea leaves which are left to infuse. Then fresh mint leaves are added and the mixture is sweetened to taste.
Mint tea is often prepared by the head of the family. Its popularity extends throughout the Maghreb region (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Mauritania and Western Sahara), as well as in sub-Saharan Africa and West Africa. In mainland France too, it is consumed due to the immigrant population from North Africa and cultural exchanges in the basin. Mediterranean . It should also be noted that the use of mint in this region dates back to Antiquity.
“Often prepared by the head of the family”
A little history…
It is said that originally, Suleiman (a 9th century Arab trader) recorded in his diary his numerous expeditions to China where mention is made of tea. It was then described as an almost sacred herb in the Middle Kingdom. This is believed to be the oldest account of tea outside of Chinese writings.
It is then considered that tea arrived in Egypt around the 16th century after a journey through Pakistan, Iran, the Arabian Peninsula and Turkey. But he stopped there, at the gates of the Libyan desert.
For their part, the colonial empires will increase and transform tea production in Asia in their colonies. Tea culture was introduced to India by the British, the French developed it in Indochina and the Dutch in Indonesia. Tea production will accelerate (this plant was until then an exceptional product). Its price will gradually drop to become accessible and its democratization will allow all social classes to consume tea.
Furthermore, the British also brought powdered tea to North Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries via two routes, Morocco and Algeria. It was then adopted by the Tuaregs, including those from Niger who referred to it as eshahid . Thanks to nomadic populations, tea spread quickly throughout the Maghreb, then throughout West Africa. Little by little, a ceremonial intended for the consumption of tea is put in place, and a whole folklore, as well as a craft, develops around this beverage.
“The first drink is as sweet as life. The second is as strong as love. The third is as bitter as death. »
Tuareg proverb about tea.
Moroccan tea time
In Morocco, mint tea is THE traditional drink of the country. Very popular, it is served to guests as a refined mark of hospitality. Served delicately in small glasses and frequently poured from height, it produces a little foam on the surface, often amusing the gallery and mainly the children. But this also testifies to the perfection of its preparation and also allows the tea to be aerated and its taste to be enhanced.
It is appreciated for its thirst-quenching capacity and its sweet flavor but also for the moments of tasting and relaxation it provides. It is a sociable, friendly drink which invites reunions with family and friends but also allows you to share warm moments with the host during informal meetings.
“It’s a sociable, friendly drink that invites reunions”
His entry into the Cherifian Empire is the subject of various hypotheses: the most widespread is that King Ismail ben Sharif received green tea from Queen Anne in exchange for sixty-nine freed British prisoners. Morocco's tea trade was then dominated by the United Kingdom in the 19th century, largely due to the modernization of the port of Essaouira in the 1760s. Tea eventually gained popularity by mid-century, and it It was around this time that mint was introduced into the drink. With its strong taste, mint helped reduce the bitterness of the tea without altering its color.
Morocco, 1st importer of green tea in the world
According to figures, more than 3.5 billion people consume tea every day. Countries like China and India are very large consumers of tea with nearly 1.6 billion cups per day for the Middle Kingdom. India follows with 0.8 trillion cups per day and Japan with 0.3 trillion cups per day. In terms of consumption, Turkey is close to the 3 Asian countries mentioned above.
Morocco is regularly ranked among the 5 tea importing countries. It is also the leading importer of green tea according to Tridge - Global food Sourcing and data hub According to a study conducted by Sunergia , measuring the notoriety of tea brands in Morocco, the beverage has become a very popular drink, which has democratized and which is no longer reserved for important personalities. Mint tea in particular is widely appreciated by the general public and its consumption has continued to increase since its introduction almost 300 years ago.