Ritual & Secrets of Mint Tea

Moroccan Mint Tea & Persian Tea

Tea is one of the most popular beverages. Every year, five million tons of tea are consumed worldwide.

While Turkey is the leading tea consumer country in proportion to its population, two other countries are on the podium of major tea consumers - Morocco and Iran - each with its own culture and traditions of mint tea or plain tea.

For Moroccans and Persians, tea is much more than just a drink. It is a way to open up to each other, to tell each other's life stories, and unconsciously serves as therapy sessions. 

Atay ( Tea in Maghrebi ) and Chaii ( Tea in Farsi ) truly constitute the foundation of Moroccan and Persian culture. In Iran, it is customary to use a Samovar to boil water and keep it at the right temperature. Originally from Russia, the Samovar has since become very present in Iran and throughout the Arab world, as far as Morocco.

From the 15th century. The Persians took advantage of the Silk Road to transport Tea from Asia. From the end of the 19th century, the Persians began to cultivate their own Tea. National consumption was so high that local production was unable to meet demand, which required the importation of Teas from foreign countries.

Tea House - The True Origin of "Starbucks"

Chaikhanehs, or Tea House, is the original and healthy Iranian version of Starbucks… The idea being to welcome you “ Like at Home ” to meet with family, with your friends and discuss things in life or your business around a Tea or better a Mint Tea . 

Oddly enough, Morocco has mainly cafes or Qahwa (Arabic قهوة), where Mint Tea is served at all hours, as is coffee of course, in its many versions.

The idea of the Tea House is a trend that is resurfacing with new concepts highlighting the tradition of Mint Tea , like Maison NANA1807 in France and Wright or Dar Moul Atay in Morocco.

Green Tea with Mint or Black Tea

While Moroccan and Persian Tea represent their respective cultures and have become true “Ways of Life”, there are differences in the preparation of each Tea.

Moroccan Tea is poured, with spectacle and grandeur, from a teapot into glasses, while Persian Tea is often prepared using a Samovar. Moroccan Tea is prepared with mint leaves, green tea and is often very sweet, while Persian Tea uses black tea leaves and is often served unsweetened. 

At Maison NANA1807, come and taste the difference between Persian Tea and Moroccan Mint Tea, and share your experience.

Taste the Difference & Share the Experience!