Simply Calm Mind Blog

Growing up in Morocco, there were two things you could always count on, sunshine and a pot of mint tea brewing somewhere in the house. Moroccan mint tea, or “atay,” isn’t just a drink where I come from. It’s a part of our identity, a daily ritual, and a symbol of hospitality and warmth. Whether you’re visiting a friend, spending time with family, or simply taking a break from a long day, mint tea is always part of the moment.

I was born and raised in Morocco, and I honestly can’t remember a single day when we didn’t drink tea. It was the first thing prepared when guests came over, the mid-morning refresher after chores, the afternoon calm after school, and sometimes even the thing that helped you wind down in the evening. Tea was just always there. And making it wasn’t just a task, it was a kind of ceremony.

The Traditional Way to Make Moroccan Mint Tea

Making Moroccan mint tea isn’t complicated, but there is an art to it. The ingredients are simple, but how you prepare and pour the tea really brings out its beautiful flavor.

What You’ll Need:

• Green tea (usually Chinese gunpowder green tea)
• Fresh spearmint leaves (the more the better!)
• Sugar (or honey if you prefer)
• Boiling water
• A traditional Moroccan teapot (or any heat-safe teapot)
• Tea glasses (not mugs, we do love our small glasses!)

How to Make Moroccan Mint Tea:

Step 1: Rinse the tea: Start by adding 1 tablespoon of green tea to your teapot and pour in about a cup of boiling water. Let it sit for about 30 seconds, then swirl it gently and pour out the water. This isn’t wasteful, it’s to rinse the tea and get rid of the bitterness.

Step 2: Brew the tea: Add another full pot of boiling water into the teapot over the rinsed tea. Let it brew for a few minutes.

Step 3: Add the mint and sugar: Once the tea has steeped, add a generous handful (or two!) of fresh spearmint leaves. Then add sugar to taste—Moroccan tea is usually very sweet, but you can definitely cut back or use honey if you’re like me and trying to be a little healthier.

Note: If you’re watching your sugar intake, you can skip the sugar in the pot and sweeten your individual glass with honey afterward. Personally, I’ve tried drinking it without sugar, and let me be honest, it just doesn’t hit the same for me! That rich sweetness brings out the flavor of the mint and balances the green tea’s slight bitterness.

Step 4: Mix the tea: This is where the magic happens. In Morocco, we don’t stir the tea with a spoon. Instead, we pour one glass of tea and pour it back into the pot, repeating this a few times. It helps to mix the flavors and give the tea its signature foam when poured.

Step 5: Serve with flair: Pour the tea from high above the glass—it helps to cool it slightly and creates that lovely foamy top we all love.

The Cultural Soul of Morocco in a Glass

Moroccan mint tea isn’t just about the ingredients or the taste. It’s about the feeling that comes with it. In Morocco, serving tea is a gesture of love and respect. It’s how we welcome people into our homes, how we slow down and connect.

When guests arrive, tea is always offered. Even if someone pops in unannounced for five minutes, the kettle goes on. And when we sit together to drink it, there’s this moment of calm and connection, people stop scrolling, put down their work, and just be.

As a child, I loved watching my mother make tea. It was like a dance, the way they rinsed the tea, picked the freshest mint from our garden, poured from the teapot with grace. It was something I grew up absorbing without even realizing it, and now I do it myself, often thinking of them.

Even now, living far from Morocco, I still keep mint in the fridge and tea in the cupboard. On days when I’m homesick or overwhelmed, I boil the kettle and make a pot. The aroma of fresh mint and green tea fills the kitchen, and suddenly I feel like I’m home again.

The Health Benefits of Moroccan Mint Tea

Beyond the cultural beauty, Moroccan tea is surprisingly good for you too. Green tea and mint both have amazing health properties, especially when you’re not overloading it with sugar.

Here are some of the benefits:

• Digestive support: Mint helps soothe the stomach and ease indigestion. We often drink it after meals for this reason.
• Stress relief: The aroma of mint alone can be calming, and sipping the warm tea helps you relax.
• Immune boost: Green tea is rich in antioxidants, which help strengthen your immune system.
• Hydration: Unlike coffee, mint tea keeps you hydrated while still giving you a light energy boost from the green tea.
• Anti-inflammatory: Both green tea and mint contain compounds that help reduce inflammation in the body.

And when you make it with honey instead of sugar, you also get the added benefits of natural antioxidants and antibacterial properties.

A Little Glass of Joy

For me, Moroccan mint tea is a hug in a glass. It reminds me of where I come from, of afternoons with my family, of laughter echoing in the living room while the kettle whistled in the kitchen. It’s something that lives deep in my heart, and every time I make it, I feel a little more grounded.

So if you’ve never made Moroccan tea before, I really hope you’ll try it. Take your time with it, enjoy the process, and when you pour your first glass, pour it high with love.

And if you find the traditional version a little too sweet, don’t worry, just add honey to your cup instead. Your body might thank you for the lighter version, but either way, it’s a beautiful, nourishing ritual worth embracing.

— Fifi