Tea & infusions
Anise & Fennel Tea (Nafâa)
نافع · nafâa
Nafâa, a warm infusion of anise and fennel seeds, is among the gentlest of Morocco's herbalist teas — a mild, faintly liquorice-scented brew given for digestive discomfort and, in a very weak form, even to soothe colicky babies. Unlike the sharper wormwood or thyme infusions, it is considered soft and safe enough for almost anyone, which is part of why it is such a household staple.
- Type
- Anise and fennel seed infusion
- Served
- Warm to hot, in a glass
- When
- Digestion, colic, gentle remedy
- Key flavour
- Sweet, liquorice-like, mild
What Anise & Fennel Tea is
Nafâa is a warm infusion of anise seed, fennel seed, or both together, valued for a mild, sweetish, faintly liquorice flavour that is gentler than most of Morocco's other herbalist teas. It is one of the go-to remedies for a windy or upset stomach, drunk by adults after a heavy meal and given, in a much weaker dilution, to soothe fussy infants.
Because it is considered so mild and safe, it occupies a slightly different place from the sharper winter infusions like chiba or fliyou — it is a tea for everyday digestive comfort rather than a strong seasonal remedy, and it is one households keep on hand year-round.
How it's made & served
Anise or fennel seeds, or a mix of both, are steeped or lightly simmered in hot water until the liquid takes on their sweet, aromatic scent, then strained and lightly sweetened if desired. Adults often drink it plain or with a little honey after meals.
For infants, the seeds are steeped much more briefly and diluted further, producing a very weak, barely sweetened tea given in small amounts to ease colic and wind. Some households also add a pinch of ground cardamom to the adult version for extra warmth.
In the glass, at a glance
- Anise seeds, fennel seeds, or both
- Hot water, steeped or briefly simmered
- Honey, optional, for the adult version
- A much weaker dilution for infants
- Optional pinch of cardamom
A flavour snapshot of what goes in.
When & where you drink it in Marrakech
Nafâa is a home drink rather than a café order, made after a heavy meal or whenever a stomach feels unsettled, and it is sold as loose seeds at herbalist stalls and general spice sellers throughout the souks.
Because of its association with infant colic, it is very much a household remedy passed down between generations rather than something served to guests for pleasure, though a herbalist on a spice souk tour will readily point it out among the digestive seeds and herbs.
Cultural notes
The trust placed in nafâa, gentle enough to give to a newborn, says something about how central digestive wellbeing is to Moroccan home remedies — food and drink are expected to actively help the body, and a mild seed tea for a fussy baby is treated as ordinary household knowledge rather than anything unusual.
It sits at the calm end of a whole spectrum of Moroccan herbal teas that runs from this mild seed infusion all the way to the sharp bitterness of wild wormwood, each matched carefully to the person and the complaint. Read more in our guides.
Frequently asked questions
What is nafâa tea?
Nafâa is a gentle Moroccan infusion of anise seed, fennel seed or both, drunk for digestive comfort and, in a very weak dilution, given to soothe colicky infants.
Is anise and fennel tea safe for babies?
A very weak, diluted version is a traditional Moroccan remedy for infant colic, though it is always made much milder than the adult tea.
When do Moroccans drink anise or fennel tea?
Mainly after a heavy meal or when the stomach feels unsettled — it is considered one of the mildest, safest herbalist infusions, kept on hand year-round.