Tea culture in Tunisia is an important social practice that shows hospitality, builds and maintains social ties, and is used to celebrate important moments in the lives of communities.
Tunisians usually consume green tea with fresh or dried mint. The drink is served freshly-brewed and hot, in pear-shaped glass cups. It is typically accompanied by sweets, sugar, and nuts. Tea culture is an essential part of daily life for all layers of society, providing a strong sense of cultural identity.
Tunisian tea is made by brewing green tea and mint leaves in boiling water. It’s quite impossible to be a guest in Tunisia without being offered something to drink. That drink is typically tea or coffee. The tea is usually served as a sign of hospitality to guests and is normally available in the house throughout the day.
Tunisian Mint Tea Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of water
- 2 tea bags or 2 tsp loose black or green tea (amount of tea can also be adjusted to how light or dark you like your tea)
- 2-4 tbs sugar (or to taste)
- A large handful of mint sprigs
- Optional: Pine nuts (raw or lightly toasted)
Preparation:
Put water in a small pot or heat-safe tea pot, add tea and sugar, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add all the mint leaves and let boil for another minute, then take off the heat and let sit for about 5 minutes. Strain liquid into your teapot.
Put about 1 tsp of pine nuts in each glass. Then pour strained tea into the cups. You can also garnish with a fresh mint leaf in each cup.
Check out more Tunisian Recipes.
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