Marvellous Moroccan Mint Tea
Mint leaves are full of health benefits, and they make a wonderfully refreshing drink. In this article, we share the traditions of Moroccan mint tea and why it makes sense to enjoy a daily infusion.
What’s so Special About Mint leaves?
If you touch a mint leaf, it immediately releases its strong, clean aroma. Then, the taste leaves a cooling tingle in the mouth.
For this reason, mint is the flavour of products used to freshen the breath, such as toothpaste and chewing gum. However, because mint leaves also have antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, they don’t simply freshen the breath. They also fight bacteria, which can cause oral infections that can cause bad breath.
Mint leaves are high in Vitamin A, which is an essential nutrient for eye health and immunity. In addition, they have been used for centuries to relieve digestive problems. The menthol relaxes muscles in the digestive tract, which eases bloating, colic and symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
The strong aroma is also good for enlivening the senses, decongesting the nasal tract, clearing headaches, and enhancing mental performance. As such, mint tea has preventative and healing properties, while tasting great. Have I captured your interest? Let me tell you more!
Drinking Mint Tea in Morocco
There is a long tradition of drinking mint tea in Morocco, and if you ever visit, an offer of this beverage is a sign of welcome, friendship, and hospitality. Known locally as Touareg tea, it is poured from
a height into tall glasses, which aerates the drink and is part of the ceremony. Guests are typically served first, and in a second round of pouring, the intensity of flavour increases.
Moroccan mint tea is a blend of gunpowder green tea, mint leaves and sugar. It’s refreshing on a hot African day and warming in the evening. The antioxidants in the green tea further enhance the health benefits, while the caffeine adds an extra boost to mental alertness.
Sharing a drink of mint tea is a social occasion, a time to pause the day, reflect and enjoy a shared experience.
Food Pairings with Mint Tea
I’ve recently been hosting a variety of food and tea pairing workshops. With that in mind, let’s look at what works well with mint tea.
Mint is widely used in condiments that accompany rich, spicy or fatty foods. For example, you might add mint sauce to your Lamb roast dinner, or enjoy mint raita with a curry.
In Morocco, mint tea is often served with meat or cheese-filled filo pastries. It also makes the perfect accompaniment to delightful treats, including Fekkas twice-baked honey biscuits, Baghrir honey-drenched pancakes, and stuffed dates.
As the strength of mint tea lingers on the palate, it can alter the flavour of other foods. For this reason, you may choose to sip it after the meal. Then, it can play its part in aiding digestion.
Our Moroccan Mint Tea
Our Mystic Moroccan mint tea has always proved a popular choice in tea tastings. Inspired by tradition, we blend subtly smoky Chinese Pinhead Gunpowder Green Tea with Peppermint, Red Peppercorns & Sunflower Petals. The aroma and flavour are released as soon as the tea is immersed in hot water. However, we recommend letting it infuse for 3 minute
s before tasting. Our tea is unsweetened, so we leave it up to you to decide whether or not to add sugar.
For a twist, we asked a mixologist to create a cocktail with it. He blended our mint tea withwhisky, bourbon and sugar to create a fragrant Mint Julep, which is wonderful for spring and summer parties. Maybe you’d prefer a mojito, mixing our mint tea with lime juice, white rum, sugar and ice.
A Glass a Day
Enjoying a daily glass or mug of Moroccan mint tea is an effective way to beat the mid-afternoon slump, cut through rich foods and gain the health benefits. What’s more, it has a marvellous and enduring taste. Isn’t it time to give it a try?
