(HealthCastle.com) Tea drinking is an important part of Moroccan culture; tea is frequently consumed throughout the day and most notably during mealtimes. It is estimated that green tea was introduced to Morocco in the 18th century and began spreading through the country soon thereafter.

Traditional Moroccan mint tea is sweeter than many teas, as it is considered a dessert and is prepared with hefty amounts of sugar, along with fresh mint, dried green tea (referred to as Chinese gunpowder), and boiling water. Moroccan mint tea is prepared by stuffing fresh mint inside a teapot and adding 1 part green tea leaves to approximately 4 parts sugar, then topping with boiling water. The ingredients are thoroughly mixed by pouring the tea into a glass and then back into the teapot several times. The tea is then poured through a filter and served during social visits with guests. Morocco's traditional mint tea routinely accompanies the rich flavors of Moroccan cuisine as stated in the pages of Moroccan National Tourism.

As one of the biggest tea importers in the world, Morocco continues to enjoy and consume the addictive sweet traditional mint tea in record-breaking volumes.

Nutritional Info of a traditional Moroccan mint tea: 1 cup of tea + 3 tsp sugar = 49 kcal