Moroccan Tea Ceremony
By Sydney Wacker
Morocco is an African country with a population of 36 million people. Most people in
Morocco are Muslim and speak Arabic. In morocco the people who live there take their day
slowly and mindfully, and something that they take slowly and mindfully, is the Moroccan Tea
ceremony. The Moroccan Tea Ceremony is a sacred performance preformed all around
Morocco. But it first originated in the very center of Morocco. It is around a fifteen minute
performance that is a sign of hospitality and respect. The Moroccan tea ceremony highlights the
Architecture of Morocco, as well as reflects the daily life of the people and the natural land in
Morocco.
The Moroccan Tea Ceremony is heavily influenced by the customs in the United
Kingdom because Morocco is the northernmost country in Africa and is only eight miles away
from Spain. The Moroccan tea ceremony was popularized in central Morocco approximately five
hundred years ago after Arabs conquered Northwest Africa in 681.
The process of the Moroccan Tea Ceremony is long and very performative. The server, or
performer, will start by placing mint leaves and water into a pot that is then boiled. After it
finishes boiling, the performer adds sugar and more mint leaves. Then, they steep the tea for five
minutes until everything is combined. The tea is heated up for an additional five minutes to
warm everything up. The performer will then pour a glass of tea from high up but only let it fill
half way. The performer will proceed to fill up a second cup completely only to then throw it out
because it is believed that the first cup will be bitter. The first glass that was poured then goes
back into the kettle and is boiled for another five minutes. Finally, the performer serves the tea
into small glasses that re decorated with colorful designs.
Morocco has three types of terrain: desert, mountains, and coastal lowlands. The country
borders on the Sahara Desert, which is one of the least populated places on earth with only 2.5
million people. The area is flat and hot. Sebeka Tah is the lowest point in the country at 55meters below sea level. The coastal lowland of Morocco better known as the Taza Depression
has sand dunes and marshes. There is a high density of phosphate in this area which makes
Morocco one of the biggest producers of this mineral. One of the Moroccan mountain ranges is
called the Rif Mountains. It features the highest point of Morocco called Mount Tidirhine at
2,450 meters tall. Some of these mountains are impossible to climb through and almost separate
Morocco completely from the rest of the continent.
People in Morocco usually take their day slowly, so they are peaceful and mindful all
day. This mindset makes most Moroccans hospitable. For example, if you were shopping for a
rug, before you even began you would be welcomed in for a tea ceremony. Before business
begins, Moroccans take a moment to connect with each other. They are always aware of what's
around them and they always try to be "present." And, what's around them is very detailed
architecture as well as fountains over 1000 years old. Many of the buildings are constructed with
both nude and bright tones.
There are five key design elements in Moroccan architecture: open courtyards,
calligraphy, mosaic tiles, geometric patterns, and archways. You can see this represented in
places like Oudaias Kasbah, Chefchaouen, Bab Al-Mansour and Medersas. Like so much of
Moroccan culture these places are all heavily influenced by Islamic design.
The Moroccan tea ceremony reflects many the diverse aspects of Moroccan culture. It
reflects the land in which it came from, the history behind it and the Moroccan people
themselves.
Citations:
Benlafquih, Christine. “Moroccan Hospitality: the Mint Tea Tradition.” The Spruce Eats,
TheSpruceEats, 17 Aug. 2018, www.thespruceeats.com/moroccan-mint-tea-tradition2394749.
Bing, Alison. “Moroccan Architecture.” Lonely Planet, Lonely Planet, 20 Aug. 2010,
www.lonelyplanet.com/morocco/travel-tips-and-articles/moroccan-architecture/40625c8c8a11-5710-a052-1479d2777f13.
Mouttaki , Amanda. “Taking Time for Tea in Morocco - A Local Tradition Wortsh Adopting |
ParTASTE.” ParTASTE.com, 8 Apr. 2015, partaste.com/moroccan-mint-tea-timemorocco/.