Atay b'naanaa
moroccanteamintveganbeginnerquickhot-drink

Atay b'naanaa

This classic Moroccan mint tea is bright, sweet, and deeply refreshing, with the gently smoky character of gunpowder green tea balanced by a generous handful of fragrant spearmint. Poured high into glasses, it develops a delicate froth and a welcoming aroma that makes it as beautiful as it is soothing.

10 min
2 servings
60 kcal
Moroccan

Ingredients

Tea infusion

  • 500 mlwater
  • 6 ggunpowder green tea
  • 20 gfresh spearmint
  • 30 ggranulated sugar

Instructions

  1. 1

    Bring the water to a boil. Meanwhile, rinse the spearmint under cold water and gently shake dry; keep a few attractive sprigs whole for serving if you like.

  2. 2

    Warm a teapot or heatproof pot with a splash of the hot water, then discard that water. Add the gunpowder green tea to the pot and pour in about 50 ml of the boiling water. Swirl for 5 seconds and discard this first rinse to remove bitterness and wake up the leaves.

  3. 3

    Add the sugar and spearmint to the pot. Pour in the remaining hot water, cover, and let steep for 3 minutes. Avoid over-steeping, which can make green tea harsh.

  4. 4

    Stir the tea by pouring a little into a glass and returning it to the pot 2-3 times, or stir gently in the pot until the sugar is fully dissolved. Taste and adjust sweetness only if needed.

  5. 5

    Serve hot, traditionally pouring from a little height into small glasses to aerate the tea and create a light froth. The finished tea should taste fresh, sweet, and pleasantly brisk, not overly bitter.

Nutrition per serving

60 kcal
Calories
0g
Protein
15g
Carbs
0g
Fat
0g
Fiber

Notes

Background

Atay b'naanaa is Morocco's iconic mint tea, introduced after green tea entered North African trade routes in the 18th and 19th centuries. It became a symbol of hospitality, with the ritual of brewing and pouring tea holding an important place in daily social life across the country.

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