Moroccan Mint Tea (Atay)
Authentic Moroccan mint tea (atay) made with gunpowder green tea, fresh spearmint, and sugar. Includes the traditional high-pour ritual and cultural history. Ready in 10 minutes with just 4 ingredients!
Ingredients
- 3 cups water
- 2.5 tsp loose “gunpowder” green tea
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 8 sprigs fresh mint (approx. 6” long) washed
- 4 sprigs artemisia or sage if desired
Instructions
- You’ll need a working teapot, not a decorative one. Add tea leaves to the teapot. Set aside.
- Place water in a small pot and bring to a boil.
- Pour ½ cup of boiling water on the tea leaves. Allow to sit for approximately 30 seconds to a minute, then swirl around and drain out the water, reserving the tea leaves in the teapot.
- Give the mint sprigs a good twist to bruise them and place into the teapot.
- Pour in the rest of the hot water.
- Place the teapot on the burner and bring to a boil. Boil gently for about 5 minutes.
- Add sugar to the pot.
- Remove teapot from the burner and allow tea/mint too steep for 5 minutes.
- To mix the sugar, pour tea from about a foot or higher above into a serving glass. Pour tea back into the teapot and repeat this process for 3 to 4 times. This part of the process not only mixes the sugar but also aerates the tea.
- To serve the tea, using the same high pouring method, forming creamy bubbles on top the tea.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition (per serving, makes 4): ~36 calories, ~9g carbs (all from sugar), 0g protein, 0g fat — essentially negligible beyond the sugar.
