Zakaria teaches the art of Mint Tea
Nov 23, 2024
At the head of Maison Nana 1807, Zakaria has Mint Tea in his blood.
A passion inherited from his mother who prepared a delicious infusion for him.
Every time we came back to Rosières (Lunery, Cher) , mom would wait for us at home with mint tea. For Zakaria Nana, the history of mint tea is closely linked to his personal history.
That of a Moroccan family exiled in Berry. "My parents settled in France in May 1968, in Vatan; they moved to Cher in 1972." He passed his baccalaureate in Bourges, finished his studies in the United States and traveled the world for thirty years for his professional activity.
"Even in Morocco, the tradition of mint tea is being lost"
With the family home in Berry as a point of reference and, always, the mother's mint tea that awaited her. "It was so good, I told her I was going to sell it all over the world." A statement about to come true "thirty-five years later." "We created Maison Nana 1807 in March 2020. The idea was to sell mom's recipe." The first preparation developed is also a tribute to the one who left this world before Maison Nana 1807 saw the light of day. "We called it Mouima, which means "my beloved mother." My children called their grandmother that." Eleven other recipes followed, always with mint, mixing inspirations (earl grey, rooibos, perfumed).
And the small family business elevates mint tea to the rank of art and science and excellence, which it sells on the Internet and in the Galeries Lafayette. "Like a small vineyard that makes great wines , we are a small mint tea house that makes great mint teas, organic and made in Berry."
Wine has oenology? Now, mint tea has "mintéalogie, to explain the history, science and art of mint tea" . Because "even in Morocco, the tradition is being lost" . As a teacher, Zakaria Nana reminds us of the basics. "Mint tea has been consumed for twelve centuries in Morocco; it has only been sweetened for seventy years, it is a historical error. In the Moroccan tradition, it is always served plain."
The decoction has always been prepared "with Chinese green tea. Even today, 25% of China's global exports go to Morocco." While the beverage "was reserved for an elite, it became popular during the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, in every Moroccan family, there is a tea attendant. At every major event (wedding, funeral, etc.), he is the master of the tea ceremony. If he is not there, no tea is served."
Tea service, “from right to left” , service times “five times a day” … Once launched, Zakaria Nana is inexhaustible. “Our ideal would be to create a school of mintealogy in Berry. It would probably be the first in the world.”
And the former globetrotter who has become a Berry native again dreams of uniting peoples around tea. "I would like to organize mint tea ceremonies for peace in Paris, in front of Notre-Dame, Jerusalem and Mecca. Unite all faiths around tea." A pious wish for now, in the meantime, he invites people to a Châteauroux ceremony this Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Salon de la Gastronomie.
