Tea & drinks · Jemaa el-Fnaa & the souks
Fresh Juice & Smoothie Tour
Marrakech runs on fresh juice. The ring of numbered orange-juice carts on Jemaa el-Fnaa is an icon, but the city's juice culture goes far deeper — panaché smoothies layered with avocado and dried fruit, pomegranate pressed in season, sugarcane, and the milkshake-thick avocado juice locals adore. This tour is a refreshing, non-alcoholic crawl through the pressers and blenders, ideal for the heat and a lovely counterpoint to all the grilled meat and pastry.
- Duration
- 1 hour
- Best time
- Daytime heat or after a heavy meal
- Pace
- Easy, standing at carts
- Area
- Jemaa el-Fnaa & the souks
Overview
The orange-juice carts encircling Jemaa el-Fnaa are one of Marrakech's enduring images — dozens of numbered stalls piled with oranges, pressing to order all day and late into the night. Morocco is a major citrus grower, so the juice is genuinely fresh, cheap and excellent, though the square's carts are famous for hustling tourists, so it pays to confirm the price first.
Beyond oranges, Marrakech has a rich juice-bar culture. Avocado juice — really a thick, sweet avocado shake — is a local favourite, as is the layered panaché blending avocado, banana, apple, dried fruit and nuts. In season you will find pomegranate, sugarcane and prickly pear. In a hot, dry, largely alcohol-free city, these are the drinks of choice, and a refreshing pause between heavier tastings.
What you'll taste
- Fresh orange juice — Pressed to order at the square's numbered carts from Morocco's abundant citrus — cheap, bright and iconic.
- Avocado juice — A thick, sweet, milkshake-like blend of avocado with milk and sugar — a beloved Moroccan treat, more dessert than juice.
- Panaché — A layered smoothie of avocado, banana, apple and other fruit topped with dried fruit and nuts — a meal in a glass.
- Pomegranate juice — In autumn, ruby pomegranates pressed fresh — tart, jewel-bright and seasonal.
- Sugarcane juice — Cane pressed through a mangle for a grassy, intensely sweet refresher.
- Prickly pear (in season) — Cactus fruit (figue de barbarie) peeled and eaten or juiced — a summer street specialty.
The route
- 1
The orange-juice ring
Start at Jemaa el-Fnaa's numbered carts — confirm the price, then watch oranges pressed fresh to order.
- 2
A proper juice bar
Move to a juice bar in the souks for the blended drinks the carts do not do well.
- 3
Avocado juice
Order the thick, sweet avocado shake — a Moroccan favourite that surprises first-timers.
- 4
Panaché
The layered fruit-and-nut smoothie, almost a light meal, topped with dried fruit.
- 5
Seasonal press
Whatever is in season — pomegranate in autumn, sugarcane or prickly pear in summer.
- 6
Cool down and reset
A refreshing pause to rehydrate before rejoining the food trail.
When to go & what it costs
Juice is a daytime and heat-relief pleasure, though the square's orange carts press late into the night too. Seasonality matters: pomegranate in autumn, prickly pear and the freshest citrus vary through the year. A juice stop is perfect midday in the heat or as a light, refreshing counterpoint after grilled meat or pastry.
Cost & cash: Orange juice is cheap but confirm the price at the square first; blended fruit juices cost a little more.
Insider tips
- At the square's orange carts, always confirm the price per glass before ordering — this is where tourists get overcharged.
- Ask for orange juice with no added sugar or water if you want it pure.
- Avocado juice is sweet and thick — treat it as a snack or dessert, not a thirst-quencher.
- For blended drinks, a dedicated juice bar does a better, more hygienic job than a cart.
- Go seasonal — pomegranate and prickly pear are only worth it when they are in season.
Etiquette & how to eat like a local
- Agree the price at the orange carts first; a polite, firm confirmation avoids the classic overcharge.
- Watch your juice pressed fresh rather than accepting a pre-poured glass.
- Tipping is not expected at juice carts, though rounding up is fine.
- Ask before photographing the cart and its keeper.
- Return glasses where the cart uses reusable ones.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Jemaa el-Fnaa orange-juice carts a rip-off?
The juice is genuinely fresh and cheap, but the square's carts are notorious for quoting inflated prices to tourists or padding the bill. Confirm the price per glass before ordering, watch it pressed fresh, and you will enjoy one of Marrakech's classic, inexpensive pleasures.
What is Moroccan avocado juice?
It is a thick, sweet blend of avocado with milk and sugar, closer to a milkshake or dessert than a fruit juice. It is a beloved local drink, often layered into a panaché with banana, apple, dried fruit and nuts. Rich and filling, it is more snack than thirst-quencher.
Is it safe to drink fresh juice from street carts?
Freshly pressed orange juice from a busy cart is generally fine. For blended drinks with milk or ice, a dedicated juice bar is a safer bet than a cart. As always, choose busy places with high turnover, and if you have a sensitive stomach, ask for no ice.
What juices are in season in Marrakech?
Oranges are excellent much of the year thanks to Morocco's citrus harvest. Pomegranate comes into season in autumn, prickly pear (figue de barbarie) in summer, and sugarcane is pressed year-round. Ordering what is in season gets you the best, freshest glass.
Cook what you tasted
Loved something on the walk? Take it home. Learn the dish hands-on with a Marrakech chef, or follow a free step-by-step recipe.