Tea in the Sahara

Everywhere in Morocco I encountered the ritualized presentation and consumption of tea. I can say without exaggeration that tea drinking in Morocco is as culturally significant as tea drinking in China or Japan. I've had tea here before a meal, after a meal, as a separate refreshment, and with a small snack. Three cups at a sitting is typical. Green tea is used and seeped in mint. A huge block of sugar is then added. Delicious! When serving the goal is to have a head of foam on the top of the cup, which requires frequent pours from the tea pot to the cup and back. They higher the pour, the more foam is created.

The photo below shows a rural Amazigh (Berber) making tea after lunch in his tented outdoor dining area beside his house. He honored us by serving camel meat, the best of all possible foods. Afterwards he told us to rest. It didn't take me long to stretch out. Our host lives in a small village. He works as a journalist and has his own radio show that deals with issues of cultural importance for his Amazigh people. The boy working on the cell phone became a close companion. He is known as Yahyah. His father died, and he works as a laborer. Because of his passion for photography, he was brought by our host to photograph our trip.

For some of us, the title of this post "Tea in the Sahara" reminds you of a song by Sting. To satisfy your ear worm, I have the song in the link. Tea in the Sahara