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Best Mint Tea in Marrakech — Where to Drink It
Mint tea (atay b'naanaa) is Morocco's national drink, served at every meal, every business meeting, and every social visit throughout the day. Made from Chinese gunpowder green tea, a generous handful of fresh spearmint and a substantial amount of sugar, it is poured from a height to create a frothy head — a small ritual repeated millions of times daily across the country. This guide covers what makes a good version and where to find it in Marrakech.
What makes mint tea good
A well-made mint tea uses fresh spearmint, not dried, packed generously into the pot rather than a token sprig, alongside gunpowder green tea brewed briefly to avoid bitterness. The pouring technique — lifting the teapot high above the glass — is not just showmanship; it aerates the tea and creates the characteristic frothy top. Sugar is added generously during brewing rather than at the table, integrated into the tea itself rather than stirred in separately.
Where to drink it
Every riad serves mint tea as a matter of course, usually included with breakfast and offered throughout the day. Cafes throughout the medina and in Gueliz serve it as their default hot drink. The most memorable versions are often at small neighbourhood cafes rather than upscale tourist establishments, where the tea-making has been repeated identically for decades by the same hands.
Tea etiquette
Refusing tea when offered in a social or hospitality context can seem impolite; accepting at least one glass is customary even if you do not finish it. The traditional saying holds that the first glass is gentle as life, the second strong as love, and the third bitter as death — referring to the tea becoming stronger as the same mint and leaves are reused for subsequent pourings. Requesting less sugar ('shwiya sukkar') is acceptable and will not cause offence.
Practical tips
- Ask for 'shwiya sukkar' (a little sugar) if you find the standard version too sweet.
- Accept at least one glass when offered socially — refusing outright can seem impolite.
- Watch the pouring technique — a good server lifts the pot high to aerate the tea and build the frothy top.
- Try tea at a small neighbourhood cafe, not just at your riad, to compare styles across the city.
Related questions
Why is Moroccan mint tea so sweet?
Sugar is considered an integral part of the tea itself, not an optional addition, reflecting a long tradition of tea as a gesture of hospitality and generosity. You can request less sugar without causing offence.
Is mint tea served with every meal in Morocco?
Yes, typically at the end of a meal and often throughout the day in social and business contexts. It is Morocco's default hot drink and hospitality gesture.
Why is the tea poured from high above the glass?
The height aerates the tea, creating the characteristic frothy top layer and is considered a mark of a skilled server, though it also serves the practical purpose of cooling the tea slightly as it pours.
Can I buy Moroccan mint tea ingredients to take home?
Yes — dried mint, gunpowder green tea and traditional teapots are widely sold in Marrakech's souks and make excellent, easy-to-pack souvenirs.
Learn the traditional mint tea pouring ritual in a Marrakech cooking class