Berber Whisky · Sweet Mint Tea
Atay (Moroccan Mint Tea)
Photo: Foxy1219 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
It's poured from a height of a foot or more above the glass on purpose — the long pour aerates the tea and builds the foam that signals it's ready.
Atay is gunpowder green tea steeped with a generous bundle of fresh spearmint and a heavy hand of sugar, then poured from a decorated silver teapot into small glasses. Street vendors, market stalls, and cafés alike serve it constantly throughout the day as a gesture of hospitality.
Why it's made this way: Nicknamed 'Berber whisky,' it became Morocco's default social ritual for welcoming guests, and refusing a glass is considered impolite.
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Part of World of Street Food — 690 dishes from 118 countries.
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