Mint tea (herbal tea)

Aït Benhaddou, Amman, Banc d'Arguin National Park

What it is

Mint tea is a herbal tea. It is made by steeping mint leaves in hot water. The leaves may be fresh or dried. Made with peppermint, it is called peppermint tea. Made with spearmint, it is spearmint tea. Some teas use both. Strictly, it is a tisane, because it does not come from the tea plant. It is popular for its curative effects, and it is thought to help the digestive system.

Where it comes from

No single birthplace is named here, so these are the places that are. In Korea, a traditional mint tea called bakha-cha is made with East Asian wild mint leaves. In India, pudina chai is made by steeping spearmint or peppermint in hot chai. Mint tea is also the everyday drink of Tunisian cafés and tea houses, and in many North African towns it is the social glue, offered to guests as a sign of welcome.

How it is made

To make it from fresh leaves, the leaves are harvested, washed and put in boiling water for a few minutes. Dried leaves can be brewed loose or in tea bags. Mint is not a true tea, so it is less likely to turn bitter if it steeps too long. In North Africa, green tea is often brewed with fresh mint and plenty of sugar, then poured from a height into small glasses to make a light froth.

How it is eaten

Mint tea can be drunk hot or cold. It can be served with milk, sugar or honey. In the cafés of North Africa, it comes hot and sweet in small glasses. Let it cool a little and drink it slowly. It often comes with biscuits, small sweets, or a plate of nuts or dates. When a glass is offered, accepting it is a common courtesy, and a good way to sit for a while.

Where to try it

Travellers meet mint tea in many places in our library. Cafés in Aït Benhaddou and the Dades Gorge valley towns serve it all day. In Essaouira, order it at a café in the medina. Fez has cafés and squares for it. Dougga's town cafés and the tea houses near the Great Mosque of Kairouan serve it too. In Amman, ask at a traditional eatery at lunch. Ouzoud Falls has café terraces near the water.

Sources

Wikipedia, “Mint tea (herbal tea)” (CC BY-SA 4.0): the facts.

Picture 1: photograph (cropped) — Peppermint tea 2.jpg — congerdesign, CC0.

Picture 2: photograph (cropped) — Nanaminze geschnitten und getrocknet.jpg — soultea.de /André Helbig, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Picture 3: photograph (cropped) — Dried mint leaves tea.jpg — Fumikas Sagisavas, CC0.

Picture 4: photograph (cropped) — Peppermint-tea hg.jpg — Hannes Grobe/ Hannes Grobe ( talk ), CC BY 3.0.

Picture 5: photograph (cropped) — Moroccan mint tea on a traditional tray.jpg — Munfarid1, CC BY-SA 4.0.