Moroccan tea is called so not because it is made from leaves growing on plantations in Morocco. The raw materials for this drink are imported from China. The name of this unusual tea infusion speaks more about the people's love for it throughout Morocco. The local population enjoys such a drink at home, in cafes, restaurants and just outside. Moroccans are always ready to offer their guests original green tea, which is prepared and served in a special way.
Drink description
Moroccan tea is not only a popular and favorite drink of the local people, but also a sign of goodwill and hospitality. It is served during every feast, at every meeting. If the guest does not want to offend the owner, he should drink at least three glasses of mint green tea.
A calm mint flavor with a pronounced sweet note - this is real Moroccan tea. Its composition includes the main ingredient - high quality green tea leaf, which was brought from China. The second important component of the drink is fresh mint, which grows directly in Morocco.
You can drink this tea both hot and cold at any time of the day. During breakfast, the local people drink this drink, washing them with scrambled eggs and scones. During lunch tea, nuts and dried fruits are traditionally served. And before going to bed, Moroccans enjoy the pure taste of a magical drink, because thanks to the mint flavor and pronounced sweetness, the infusion has a calming effect.
Moroccan tea ceremony
The tea ceremony in Morocco is held exclusively by men. The method of preparation and the process of bottling the drink are original, despite the simplicity of the incoming ingredients. Each tea ceremony is done with some unique idea, so that even the most sophisticated guests will be pleasantly surprised.
Moroccan tea is brewed in metal dishes, something similar to Aladdin's fairy-tale lamp. The peculiarity of the drink is the presence in the glass of foam. To achieve this effect, the kettle is raised high above the glass and the infusion is poured in a thin stream. Moroccans who have attained the highest mastery of the tea ceremony pour a drink from a height of their own height, holding a teapot over their heads. In this case, not a drop of precious infusion should be spilled. It is with this method of serving that the drink is well saturated with oxygen. Tea is considered ideal, in which foam occupies half a glass.
In Morocco, there is an interesting tradition: if the owners gave the guest a glass filled to the brim with a drink, this indicates that the person is not welcome here, and it is better for him to leave this house as soon as possible.
How to brew a drink?
How to brew Moroccan tea so as not to violate the traditional technology of preparation? To do this, pour the tea leaves into a metal kettle, pour it with a small amount of boiling water and drain the water. This process removes dust from the leaves and thereby frees the drink from excessive bitterness.
After you need to add all the necessary ingredients to the tea leaves according to the recipe and pour the resulting mixture with boiling water. Next, the kettle should be put on fire and bring the contents to a boil, constantly stirring.
The resulting hot drink needs to be poured several times from the kettle into a large glass and vice versa. This process allows you to cool the infusion. Ready tea is recommended to be poured into special glasses in the manner described above, and garnished with a sprig of mint.
Moroccan tea: a classic recipe
Essential Ingredients:
- green leaf tea - 1 tablespoon;
- fresh mint - 30 grams;
- sugar - 4 tablespoons;
- water - 1 liter.
Cooking process:
- Pour the tea leaves into a metal kettle and pour 200 ml of boiling water over it. Gently rotate the dishes for a few seconds to rinse the sheet. Drain the water.
- Add sugar and mint leaves to the kettle. Pour the resulting mixture with the remaining boiling water.
- Put the kettle on a fire, bring to a boil and cool by the method described above.
- Pour the finished tea into glasses, garnishing with mint leaves.
Moroccan tea: recipe with spices
Essential Ingredients:
- green leaf tea - 2 tablespoons;
- fresh mint - 10 grams;
- orange - 1 piece;
- lemon - 1 piece;
- cinnamon - 10 grams;
- cloves - 5 grams;
- sugar - 3 tablespoons;
- water - 1 liter.
Cooking process:
- Wash the lemon well. Remove the zest from it and cut it into strips. Squeeze juice from citrus.
- Wash the orange thoroughly. Remove the zest and cut into strips.
- Mint leaves slightly wrinkled with your fingers.
- Cook the burnt sugar. To do this, calcine it in a clean, well-heated pan until the crystals melt and brown.
- Pour the tea leaves into a metal kettle and pour 200 ml of boiling water over it. Gently rotate the dishes for a few seconds to rinse the sheet. Drain the water.
- Add citrus zest, lemon juice, burnt sugar, mint leaves, cinnamon and cloves to the kettle. Pour the resulting mixture with the remaining boiling water.
- Put the kettle on fire, bring to a boil. Remove from stove and let stand for 20 minutes.
- Pour the finished tea into glasses, garnishing with mint leaves.
If you are a tea gourmet, you definitely need to try Moroccan tea - a beloved and popular drink among the local population. Magic infusion has a pleasant mint flavor with pronounced sweetness. You can try both classic tea and its spicy variation. Both recipes are easy to cook and the availability of the necessary ingredients.