When I was in Morocco,I met a man whose job was to serve tea to the tourists.He was working in a big hotel in Agadir,a giant tower that atrophied the natural beauty of the nearby beach. But in the courtyard of that hotel was a colorful tent that had an open side inviting the passerby to enter.Inside a peaceful coolness and a soft light welcomed the tea drinker. The high conical ceiling did let in the hot rays of the sun. Some low couches with beautifully decorated upholstery were placed around a table. A silver tea pot and small thin glasses,colored with golden etchings, were arranged in circles on a copper tray.

Mohammed, tall and thin was sitting, weraing a white djellaba , his head covered by a red chechia, eyes hidden behind black ray-bans. A faint smile crossed his otherwise stoic face. He saluted the guests with the traditional "Salam ha likoum." He waited that the guests seated themselves then without a word he served the tea. His hand raised the tea pot graciously high above the glasses,then he would pour the tea skillfully,letting his arm come down as the glasses would fill up. He would then resume his initial position, straight back with his hands across his lap. The tea drinkers sitting in the tent would whisper, not daring to disturb the calm that his presence summoned. When I told Mohammed that his tea was the best I had ever taste, he raised his head to acknowledge my praise and answered simply "But of course, Madame. It's my job. I've been doing this for several years."

Moroccan tea is prepared with a base of mint,green tea and sugar. It is served strong and sweet. The sugar is poured directly into the tea pot. No one will ask you whether you want it sweet or not. A tea with no sugar is no tea. As to the tea drinkers,there are who like to be served first and others who prefer to be served last.The tea is lighter in the neginning and much stronger towerds the bottom of the tea pot. Teas do not all have the same taste. It depends on the quality of the tea and the mint, and each one has his own recipr as well. In a home environment,tea is served with sweets and cookies, like the gazelle horns or Ghriba or.....  

Mmmmmmmm!