Moroccan Mint Tea — Traditional Gunpowder Green Tea Blend

Moroccan mint tea is not simply a beverage. It is the language of Moroccan hospitality — how a merchant signals you are worth his time, how a family welcomes a guest, how a deal is sealed. At 100,000 Épices, we have served thousands of glasses across three decades. This blend is the one we use ourselves.

What's in the Blend

Gunpowder green tea — small, tightly rolled pellets of Chinese green tea that unfurl as they steep, releasing a clean, slightly grassy base — combined with dried Nana spearmint from Moroccan mountain gardens. Gunpowder tea is the traditional choice for Moroccan mint tea because its density holds up against the fresh mint and the generous quantity of sugar the tradition calls for.

How to Brew It

Add 1 teaspoon of gunpowder tea to a small teapot. Pour over a small amount of just-boiled water, swirl for 10 seconds, and discard the water (this removes bitterness). Add fresh mint if available, or use the dried mint in the blend. Add sugar to taste — traditionally 3–4 teaspoons per pot. Pour boiling water over, steep for 2–3 minutes. Pour from height to aerate and create a light foam. Serve in small glasses.

The Three-Glass Tradition

Moroccan custom calls for three glasses: the first is said to be as bitter as life, the second as strong as love, the third as sweet as death. Each pour from the same pot tastes different. This is the point.

Complete the Ritual

The tea is the foundation. Add raw Moroccan honey and whole cinnamon sticks and you have the complete morning tradition — the way it is served across every riad and household in Marrakech. Our Moroccan Morning Ritual Bundle gives you all three for $35.