True Morrocan mint tea is a mixture of green tea (traditionally Special Gunpowder green China tea) and mint leaves and sugar a lot of sugar! The making of which is almost an art-form in itself ! The sugar can of course be adjusted to taste or left out completely. You will need a Moroccan teapot or a pot with a lid that can be used on top of a stove.
Add the loose tea into your tea pot. Separately boil about 5 cups of water in a kettle.
Once the water boils, pour one cup of water into your Moroccan teapot. Brew for about 30 seconds and then empty the tea into a teacup. Keep this for later. The first cup is very important, it is the essence of the tea flavour.
Next, add another cup of boiling water into your Moroccan teapot. Swish it around pour off and discard. This is to cleanse the tea to remove any bitter flavour.
Now add the sugar and the mint to your Moroccan teapot, together with the first cup of tea that you set aside. Then top up your Moroccan teapot with the rest of your boiled water.
Place your Moroccan teapot on the stove over medium heat and bring to a simmer, for about 5 minutes, this will help the sugar to caramelise and gives the tea its distinct flavour, it is often served after a meal in Morocco almost instead of or alongside a desert.
After 5 minutes of simmering, remove from the heat and pour a glass of tea, and pour back into the tea pot. To mix everything together repeat this process two or three times.
You can now serve the tea but remember to poor the tea from high above the glass/cup (traditionally this tea is served in elaborate coloured glasses) This creates a frothy tea characteristic of Moroccan mint tea.
Moroccan Mint Tea
Serves 4
INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon gunpowder green tea
2 tablespoons sugar (adjust to taste; add more if you like very sweet leave out completely if not to your taste but it will not be a traditional tea)
a large handful mint preferably our Moroccan Mint
5 cups boiling water approx
INSTRUCTIONS
Place the loose tea into your Moroccan teapot.
In a separate kettle, boil your water.
Add one cup of boiling water to the Moroccan teapot.
Let the tea brew for 30 seconds. Pour the tea into a glass and set to one side for later.
Add another cup of boiling water to the Moroccan teapot. Swirl around for 5 seconds. Pour this tea out and discard.
Add the mint, sugar, and first glass of tea back into Moroccan teapot, then top up with boiling water.
Place the Moroccan teapot on the stove over medium heat and bring to a simmer, for 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and pour one glass of tea. Pour this glass back into the teapot to mix. Repeat two more times.
Pour the tea from high above each glass to create a froth.
Garnish with a couple mint leaves (optional) and serve.
You can also make a much simpler mint tea using the following method
a handful of fresh mint ( any will do try out some of our other varieties including ( Apple Mint, Blackcurrant Mint, Swiss Mint or Black Peppermint) See which is your favourite.
honey to sweeten (To taste)
Method
Take a few leaves of the mint at a time and slightly crush, then drop the leaves into a teapot or cafetiere. Repeat with the rest of the mint, saving a few small sprigs for each glass as a garnish if you wish.
Fill up the pot with just boiling water (ideally leave the boiled water for a minute before doing this) and let it infuse for 2-3 mins, the liquid will start to take on a slight pale yellow colour. Strain the tea into cups and sweeten with honey to taste. Garnish with the reserved mint leaves if you wish.