Moroccan Royal Tea — Ceremonial Herbal Blend, 80g

What Is Moroccan Royal Tea?

Moroccan Royal Tea is not ordinary mint tea. Where the classic Moroccan mint tea, known as atay, is a daily ritual, Royal Tea is something reserved for special occasions: weddings, engagement ceremonies, the arrival of honoured guests, and family celebrations. It is the tea that says you are welcome here and this moment matters.

The blend is richer and more complex than everyday mint tea, combining a carefully balanced selection of dried herbs and botanicals that create a deep, layered infusion with a warm, sweet, slightly aromatic character. Each element is chosen for both its flavour and its place in Moroccan herbal tradition.

At 100.000 Epices, we have been blending and selling Royal Tea from our shop in the medina of Marrakech since 1992. The herbs come from trusted suppliers across Morocco, from the Atlas Mountains, the Sous valley, and the coastal plains. The blend is our own, refined over decades of feedback from Moroccan families and international customers who discovered it and keep coming back.

The Moroccan Tea Ceremony

Serving tea in Morocco is an act of hospitality, not just a drink. The preparation is a ritual: the tea is brewed in a small pot, then poured from a height to create the characteristic froth that Moroccans call the turban. It is poured, tasted by the host, adjusted, and served in at least three rounds.

Royal Tea is typically served sweet and always prepared with care. When you brew it at home, you are participating in a tradition that connects the family table in Marrakech to the Moroccan diaspora in Paris, Amsterdam, or Montreal.

How to Prepare Moroccan Royal Tea

Ingredients (serves 4 to 6):

• 1 heaped tablespoon of Royal Tea blend
• 750ml fresh water
• 3 to 4 tablespoons sugar, adjusted to taste
• Fresh mint leaves (optional but traditional)

Method:

1. Bring the water to a boil in a small teapot or saucepan.
2. Add the Royal Tea blend and reduce to a simmer. Let steep for 3 to 5 minutes.
3. Add sugar and stir to dissolve. Taste and adjust sweetness.
4. If using fresh mint, add to the pot and steep for 1 more minute.
5. Pour the tea from a height of 20 to 30cm above the glass to create the characteristic foam.
6. Pour the first glass back into the pot to mix fully, then serve.

Steeping time: 3 to 5 minutes for a balanced brew. Longer steeping creates a more intense flavour.

When to Serve Royal Tea

• Weddings and engagements: The tea table is one of the first things guests encounter. Royal Tea signals the occasion's importance.
• Receiving guests: Moroccan hospitality begins with tea. Royal Tea says the visit is honoured.
• Eid and Ramadan: During celebration periods, Royal Tea replaces everyday mint tea at the family table.
• As a gift: One of our most popular international orders. Moroccan families abroad order it to recreate the taste of home for special occasions.

Benefits of Moroccan Royal Tea

The herbs in Royal Tea are not chosen arbitrarily. Each one has a place in Moroccan herbal medicine (العلاج بالأعشاب), where blending herbs for flavour and function is a tradition stretching back centuries. These are the traditional properties attributed to the blend:

Digestive support: Several herbs in the blend, including dried mint and certain floral botanicals, are used in Moroccan tradition to ease digestion after a large meal — which is exactly when Royal Tea is typically served. In Moroccan households, ending a couscous or tagine feast with a glass of Royal Tea is as instinctive as breathing.

Calming and sleep: The blend has a warming, relaxing quality. Brewed in the evening, it supports winding down after the activity of a wedding or celebration. Several of the herbs have historically been used in the region as mild nervines — herbs that support the nervous system and encourage calm.

Respiratory comfort: Some of the aromatic herbs in the blend have been used in Moroccan tradition to gently support clear breathing. The steam from a freshly poured glass is itself part of the ritual.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory: Dried herbs used in traditional Moroccan tea blends are typically rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, and plant compounds with antioxidant properties. Royal Tea, with its variety of botanicals, carries this profile.

Note: These reflect traditional use and folk medicine knowledge. They are not medical claims.

How We Source and Blend Ours

Our Royal Tea blend comes from the same sourcing relationships we have maintained since we opened our shop in the medina of Marrakech in 1992. The herbs come from trusted suppliers across Morocco — dried botanicals from the Atlas Mountain cooperatives, aromatic plants from the Sous valley, and floral elements from the coastal plains between Casablanca and Essaouira.

We blend the mix ourselves, in small batches, using proportions we have adjusted over more than three decades of feedback from Moroccan families and the guests who have tasted it in our shop. Nothing is imported or standardised. The blend reflects the seasons and the sources, which is why it tastes like something made rather than manufactured.

What to Serve With Royal Tea

In Moroccan tradition, Royal Tea arrives on a tray with sweets. The tea is sweet itself — the sugar is added during brewing, not at the table — and the accompaniments complement that sweetness with texture and nuttiness.

Classic pairings: cornes de gazelle (gazelle horns — almond-paste pastries in a crescent shape), sellou (roasted almond and sesame paste), chebakia (honey and sesame fritters), or simply a plate of fresh Medjool dates and toasted almonds.

For guests at home: Serve in traditional Moroccan tea glasses on a brass or silver tray. Pour from a height to aerate the tea and create a small foam on the surface — this is considered the mark of a well-made Moroccan tea.

As an everyday drink: Royal Tea does not need to wait for a special occasion. A pot in the afternoon with Moroccan biscuits or just on its own is perfectly appropriate. The ritual can be as simple or as elaborate as the moment allows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Royal Tea different from regular Moroccan mint tea?

Regular Moroccan tea is typically green tea with fresh mint and sugar. Royal Tea is a more complex herbal blend served at special occasions, with a deeper, more aromatic flavour profile.

Is Royal Tea caffeinated?

Our Royal Tea blend is a herbal infusion with no tea leaves, so it contains no caffeine. You can serve it in the evening without concern.

How should I store Royal Tea?

Keep in an airtight container away from light and moisture. Stored correctly, it retains its aroma and flavour for 12 to 18 months.

Can I serve it cold?

Yes. Brew it hot, allow to cool, then refrigerate and serve over ice. It makes an excellent iced herbal drink, particularly in summer.

How many cups does one bag make?

One 80g bag makes approximately 25 to 30 cups, depending on how strong you brew it.