Authentic Moroccan Tea set
The traditional Moroccan mint tea is served in a special Moroccan tea set composed of a Moroccan tea pot, a Moroccan tea tray with deep engravings, and some decorated tea glasses with Moroccan designs.
Most high-quality Moroccan teapots are made of silver brass or stainless steel
If the Moroccan teapot is something that you've had your eye on, here is our top tips to finding the perfect one.
You probably already know it: traditional Moroccan mint tea is served in a special Moroccan tea set composed of a Moroccan tea pot (also called Moroccan kettle), a Moroccan tea tray (Berrad Atay), and some beautifully decorated Moroccan tea glasses (Kissan).
The Moroccan teapot is present in all Moroccan homes. He is the star of the Moroccan table, and of the Moroccan tea service in particular.
Growing up in Morocco, Moroccan mint tea was part of my everyday life. And that is the case for almost every person living in Morocco. In fact, Moroccan families make Moroccan mint tea daily, and some make it up to 4 times a days. It is the beverage we drink on breakfast, ceremonies like the Eids, on family gatherings and after a hot Hammam to chill and unwind.
Now, The most important thing about making Moroccan mint tea is having the right teapot. Of course, you can get away with letting the ingredients infuse in water like with most tea infusions. But to get that special taste everyone craves in Moroccan mint tea, you will need the traditional Moroccan teapot and my grandfather's recipe to make the authentic Moroccan tea.
The good news? Moroccan teapots are a good kitchen investment that lasts for years and you won’t regret buying. You can use them for making Moroccan mint tea or you can be creative and use them for serving any beverage, like coffee or wine... It’s unique, chic and decorative. (But, make sure to have one teapot for each specific beverage)
Let's look at the requirements of the perfect teapot, shall we?
1. Heat resistance
A good Moroccan teapot must be heat resistant, as it will be in direct contact with stove heat for at least 4 minutes. If you are thinking of using your ceramic or clay teapot, let me tell you it’s a bad idea, your teapot will crack in no time! So when getting your teapot make sure to ask the vendor if it's heat resistant as many Moroccan teapots are for decorative purposes only, meaning you can use them to serve tea but not to make it.
To preseve your teapot in the long run, and keep its aesthetic at the best by avoiding the dark burn spot, remember to ALWAYS USE it with a heat diffuser.
2. Stick to the Basic teapots
Some teapots have little feets in the bottom, which make them very aesthetically pleasing but hard to use on heat. I always recommend focusing on basic teapots, the one that has no feets is likely to be compatible with most stove types. The picture below showcases the differences.
Different types and colors of the Moroccan teapot ©
3. Moroccan Teapot Serving Size
In Morocco, traditional mint tea is served in beautifully decorated Moroccan tea glasses that are always of a small size as shown in the picture below. The taste and the quality of the tea is more important than the quantity and it’s very rare to be served more than three glasses during the same gathering.
As the Moroccan mint tea is meant to be served very hot, Moroccans drink it very slowly until it is no longer hot, then the host pours a little more to warm their cup. Aim for a 32oz teapot if you will be hosting 4+ people. Otherwise, a 16oz teapot will be more than enough (and will cost less).
Moroccan tea glasses come in all colors and designs. They can be discrete or bold. Moroccans also love mixing different glass colors in the same set. There are no rules and it all comes to your personal taste.
4. The quality of the teapot
The quality of the Moroccan teapots varies a lot, depending on the artisan, the composition, the weight...
The weight is the main thing you should take in consideration while choosing the perfect Moroccan teapot. If your teapot is very lightweight then you shouldn't buy it because your teapot is not going to last long and the engravings are going to be of lower quality. These teapots are often at very competitive prices, and while they might be interesting for someone who doesn’t care about quality and durability, they are a trap for someone looking for artisanally made Moroccan teapots.
In fact, the many so-called Moroccan teapots in the market are made in factories in China or India, and have nothing to do with Morocco or artisanal craftsmanship. As I previously said, a good teapot must last for years, We have in my family some artisanal Moroccan teapots that my grandfather used to use and that still look beautiful! and that's why you should always go for the artisanally-made Moroccan teapots that are made to last if used and maintained correctly.
Moroccan teapot shop ©
I personally get my teapots from the souk in the Medina of Marrakech or Fez where I know I can find non-counterfeit products. If you are in Morocco and want to go shopping in the souks and eventually get the perfect Moroccan teapot, I will be happy to put you in touch with our trustworthy local guide to go shopping in my favorite stores.
Now that you’ve learned how to make tea and chosen the perfect teapot why not plan a Moroccan tea party? This guide tells you everything you need to plan and execute a fun get together with friends or for your family. Recipes, printables and more inside. Get your copy now!
