Mint tea isn't just a drink in Morocco – it is a sign of hospitality, friendship, and tradition. Since this drink is so popular, it is served all day long, after every meal (and before, too) , and with every conversation. Moroccans take great pride in their tea, and not to offend the host minimum of two to three cups needs to be drunk.
The most commonly used tea to prepare the drink is Chinese Gunpowder Tea, but if you are unable to find it, you can use any other loose green tea leaves or green tea bags. To prepare the drink you will also need a heatproof teapot. The best to use are Moroccan Silver-plated Brass Teapots. To prepare 4 cups of tea use approximately 4 large teaspoons of loose tea and 5-6 teaspoons of sugar. Moroccans usually drink their tea very sweet, however, if people have health conditions they drink their tea unsweetened. And you need a big bunch of mint. Peppermint or spearmint will work just fine.
To start, boil a little bit over 4 cups of water in a kettle. Use 1/3 of a cup to rinse the tea pot. Place loose tea in the warm tea pot and poor a cup of boiled water. Swirl it for approx. 30 seconds to let the leaves open then poor it out in a cup (we will need it later). Now poor a cup of cold water from a filter in the tea pot. Swirl the pot to wash and rinse the tea leaves, then strain the water out through the spout of the tea pot, keeping the leaves in the pot. When this step is done you are getting close.
Now poor the first cup back in tea pot, put sugar and mint and add the rest of the boiled water. You can also add a tea spoon of rose water or orange blossom water to make the tea more aromatic.
Put the tea pot on a low fire and wait for approx. 3 min. We are waiting for the leaves to open completely and rise to the top. They will form a thick rug that will try to jump out of the pot. The tea is almost ready. Turn it off and move from the stove.
The last step is very important. Pour one glass of tea. Pour it back into the teapot. Do this at least three times. When pouring do it from a high distance. This will help to enrich tea with oxygen and will create a thin layer of foam on the top (razzah). By razzah you can tell how good the tea turned out. If it's thick and stays for a while you are holding a perfect cup of authentic Moroccan mint tea. Enjoy! And remember, the longer it seats the better it gets. Second and third cups are going be even better.