The Maghrib Soul: Sweet Mint Tea

Ataayy bin-na'naa'
اتاي بالنعناع
Mint Tea

Line sketch of teapot and cup set on tray

Identity

The Maghrib region comprises western and central North Africa, including Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, and parts of the Sahel. Most of the inhabitants are Amazigh, Arab, or Sephardic, and traditionally, they are predominantly Muslim and Jewish. Malta is also within the cultural and linguistic sphere of the Maghrib. Still, it is part of Roman Catholic Europe politically and religiously. Furthermore, Malta is more of a coffee than a tea culture. Did you know Pete Buttigieg is of Maltese background? Other Arabic registers pronounce his last name as Abu Djaaj, meaning poultry farmer. Look up ‘Siculo-Arabic’ and follow @steph95__x on Instagram.

Tea, known regionally as ataayy, is a signature offering of generosity, hospitality, belonging, and social interaction laden with customs and traditions. A common saying is: "A house without tea is not a home."

Map

Map showing North Africa and contentious area of Western Sahara

Resolved and unresolved political borders make modern maps problematic and highly contentious, such as with Western Sahara on this map. Shared maps should solely serve as educational tools, illustrating the current international consensus. Salaam encourages all to conduct research and help each other understand various perspectives, humanizing all while engaging in critical conversations that develop intercultural awareness.

Illustration of tea being poured from pot

Skills

The signature high pour isn't just for show but an art form for creating the rghowa (foam) essential for proper taste distribution and the wafty aroma of fresh mint that fills the room. When the host pours that first glass with foam perfectly cresting the rim, they offer more than just a drink; it is a ritual where they carefully usher you into their story as friends, family, and honored guests. While regionally shared, the tea is famously known as Moroccan Mint Tea, and below is an example of a signature Moroccan pour.

Watch: The Art of the Moroccan Mint Tea Pour

Illustration of tea glass

Intellect

Cafés and tea houses originated in the Middle East in the 15th century. They flourished in the 19th and 20th centuries during the Industrial Revolution and the spread of colonialism, capitalism, and nationalism, becoming bustling intellectual, political, and cultural hubs. Cafes brought people from different backgrounds together, fostering lively discussions, scholarly exchange, gossip, jokes, storytelling, camaraderie, card games, board games, and revolutions. The cafe was the social media of its time.

Watch: Secrets of the Arab Café

Fun Fact: In 1777, Morocco was the first country in the world to recognize the United States of America.

Criticality

The Maghreb, except for Libya, which Italy colonized, and Western Sahara and parts of Morocco, which Spain colonized, is part of the Francophone world, once colonized by France, where French is an official language alongside Arabic and Tamazight. The largest Maghrebi diaspora lives in France. Despite France’s ideals of enlightenment and equality and Maghrebi contributions to French culture and society, the Maghrebi population in France faces inhospitality and discrimination rooted in Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism. Meanwhile, One article below examines the role of language in perpetuating hate and stereotypes, while the other examines Western influence in post-Arab Spring Libya.

Israel/Palestine has 8 million Jewish Israelis and 2 million Arab Israelis (Palestinians) in Israel, 3 million Palestinians and 1 million Israelis (settlers) in the West Bank, and 2 million Palestinians in Gaza. The largest Maghrib Jewish diaspora community lives in Israel. Moroccan Jewish Israelis are the second-largest Jewish ethnic community in Israel, second only to the Ashkenazi founders from Eastern and Central Europe. We refer to the Islamic Jewish communities as Sephardic (Al-Andalus) or Mizrahi (MENA). The word "Sephardic" is a reference to those with origins from the Iberian Peninsula, while "Mizrahi" is a more recent invention used to denote people from the greater Middle East and North Africa. For more details on the latter, see the work of Lital Levy. Suffice it to say, the Islamic Jewish communities in Israel have experienced discrimination from their Ashkenazi co-religionists.

Joy

Dominoes is one of the most popular pastime games played in the Maghreb, alongside a cup of tea or coffee. The excitement and enthusiasm for the game quickly build up and spill over into bluffing and teasing other players, slamming dominos on the table with brute strength, laughter and anger at winning or losing, and, of course, onlookers who think they are expert strategists and premier social commentators. You can learn the basic rules for dominoes in the video below.

DOMINOES Made Simple: Rules and Strategies

Illustration of dominoes pieces lined up

Language

The mainstream Maghrebi Arabic dialect is known as Darija. Below are some useful phrases to instantly connect you with your host when they serve you tea:

"Bismillah" (بسم الله)
In the Name of God - Saying grace before your first sip
"Bis-saha" (بالصحة)
To your health or ‘cheers’ - A way to say thank you
"Allah ya’tik as-saha" (الله يعطيك الصحة)
May God give you health (response to thank you)
"Zid! Zid!" (!زيد! زيد)
"More! More!" (A compliment to your host)

Watch this interview in Educated Darija with Dr. Eric Calderwood on the legacy of Al-Andalus.

Interculturality

Receiving a tea invitation at someone's home or shop, even after a brief encounter, is common. While often a gesture of hospitality, it may not always be entirely genuine. Typical responses include polite thanks, an excuse about being busy, or a vague “inshallah.” Still, declining such an invite can be considered rejecting friendship. Tea or coffee serves many roles: reconnecting, resolving conflicts, sealing deals, arranging marriages, celebrating, mourning, or simply enjoying company.

The History and Significance of Tea in Middle Eastern Culture

Illustration of tea being poured from pot into cup

Recipe

Hot Water
Sugar
Fresh Spearmint
Gunpowder Green Tea

Music

Directions

Add three teaspoons of gunpowder green tea to a pot and cover it with half a cup of hot water.
Steep for one minute and set aside in a cup. This is called ‘the soul’ or ‘essence’ because it maintains much flavor and will be added later to the final product.
Add half a cup of hot water to the pot. Swish around for twenty seconds and discard. This step cleans the opened leaves of any debris.
Add ten sprigs of fresh mint, three tablespoons of sugar (or more), ‘the soul,’ and fill the pot with hot water. Steep for five minutes. Enjoy!

Variations

Use black tea instead of green tea.
You can use various types of mint, such as spearmint, peppermint, pennyroyal, and shiso mint.
You can substitute mint with other herbs, like lemon verbena, geranium, marjoram, thyme, sage, oregano, or wormwood.
You can incorporate nuts such as pine nuts, almonds, or unsalted peanuts into the tea.
Use alternative sweeteners, such as honey, in place of sugar.
Include citrus, like a slice of lemon.

Notes

Chai/Shaayy versus Tea/Ataayy. The etymology of the word "tea" in North African dialects is interesting. Darija Arabic uses al-taayy, which elides in pronunciation to attaayy (التاي), from the word "tea," while Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) uses al-shaayy (الشاي) from the word "chai". This is because while most of the Arab world got tea across land routes, the Maghrib and Sahel got tea from the sea from British/Portuguese traders. Since MSA and Darija live as one language, both terms are familiar in the Maghrib. Chai and tea are the same character in Chinese (茶), but pronounced cha or te depending on the Chinese dialect.

While the form of tea presented here is shared across the Maghrib region, it is marketed in the West as Moroccan Mint Tea. Additionally, the term "Al-Maghrib," the area, is synonymous with "Al-Maghrib," the country, Morocco.

Spread Map

Discover the global spread of Chai/Shaayy and Tea/Ataayy. Click on the image to learn more.

Spring 2025 Events

3/13 - Fasting Traditions Featuring Algerian Cuisine @Latzer Hall at the University YMCA from 6 to 9 pm
4/3—Moroccan Mint Tea and Moroccan Tile Paintings @Illini Student Courtyard Cafe from 6 to 8 pm
4/5 - Mom’s Day Sipping African Tea and Savoring History @Bruce Nesbitt African American Cultural Center from 4-5 pm
4/8 - Moroccan Mint Tea Dance by Nawal Assouddam @ Latzer Hall at the University YMCA from 5 to 7 pm
4/18 - A Conversation on North Africa over Libyan Tea @Salaam MENA Cultural Center from 2 to 4 pm
4/30 - Tea Culture in the African Maghrib @Asian American Cultural Center from 5 to 7 pm

Salaam MENA Cultural Center