Cure for my nostalgia: Moroccan Mint Tea

Today has been one of those serene, slow-paced days where all priorities and lists take a backseat and one seamlessly floats through. It’s a Wednesday, but I haven’t been to work since Monday. All thanks to a sore throat and some clamorous pre-wedding shenanigans over the weekend that culminated in me losing my voice. Entirely. I’d be pretty useless as a pharmacist if I couldn’t do the one thing that I am paid to do: talking shit about drugs.

Perth is rolling into October, which means spring has officially arrived. As I opened the windows, I could feel the excitement of being outdoors that approaches with spring. Which reminded me that I needed to do a new post. 

Monday was a very fine day. It wasn’t too cold and there was plenty of sunshine. About 10 months ago, I remember stepping out onto the streets of Fes, Morocco with the weather being exactly the same.As I let my memories take over, suddenly I had an immense urge to drink mint tea.

You can pretty much call mint tea as Morocco’s national drink. It has garnered a cult status in Morocco’s gastronomic culture. It is there when you arrive as a guest in someone’s house, shop or workplace. It is the catalyst that breaks the ice between strangers. It is what keeps conversations going between friends. It is the drink of choice used by men to mull over “important” matters of the day when they are whiling their time away in men-only “cafe houses”. 

Mint tea  is warm, yet refreshing. And very relaxing. And insanely easy to make. Try it once and I bet you will be hooked onto it forever, like me. 

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp Sencha green tea loose leaves (or any plain mild green tea for that matter)
  • Moroccans use gunpowder green tea but that can be quite strong for some people
• 1 cup water
• Few sprigs of mint leaves
• Sugar as desired

Method:

• Bring water to boil
• Add green tea leaves and continue boiling for 3 minutes
• In the meantime, prep your mug of choice with mint leaves and sugar
• Pour tea into the mug using a strainer 
• Let the mint infuse into the tea for another 3 minutes
• You can leave the mint leaves inside the mug or take them out- Moroccans have it either way
• ENJOY! 

PS: You can use a tea- pot to make your mint tea. Just put mint leaves in the pot and pour in your boiled green tea. Let it infuse and then pour the resulting mint tea into cups. 

Cover photo image courtesy:  http://moroccanfood.about.com/od/tipsandtechniques/ss/How-To-Make-Moroccan-Mint-Tea.htm via Getty Images