Herbs Of Morocco- Moroccan Mint
- victoria ward
- 3 days ago
- 8 min read
Moroccans often refer to Mint tea with a warm twinkle as 'Moroccan Whiskey' as this is the beverage that greases the social wheels of this hospitable country. How it came to be so is a matter of some debate- one story tells of an english queen sending gunpowder tea to Morocco in the late 17th century in return for the release of english captives. The green tea became mixed with the traditional Berber herbal infusions (including mint) that Moroccans were drinking.
Another theory is that British merchant ships changed their routes during the Crimean war and docked at Moroccan ports including Tangier and Essaouira bringing their cargo of green tea to the shores of Morocco.
Other theories include the Phoenicians bringing tea to Morocco as early as the 12th century and that the Berbers imported tea directly from Asia. However green tea reached Morocco, it became a staple and Morocco is now one of the largest importers of tea worldwide.
Moroccan Mint Tea combines spearmint with gunpowder tea and plenty of sugar, Mint species grow well in Morocco. and some will be wild-harvested and some farmed.
Mint is a hugely important crop in Morocco with an annual production of 85000 tonnes of which 5000 are exported (Hassani, 2020).
There are several Mentha species used throughout Morocco, different species are used in different areas for example Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) is the predominant mint used in the High Atlas region. Three species are mainly used throughout Morocco- M. pulegium, M. spicata and M. viridis. Some other less well-known species are limited to specific areas which must relate to their natural distribution.
What Is Moroccan Mint?
Moroccan Mint (Mentha spicata var.crispa) is a variety of spearmint known as Nana in Arabic and is used to make traditional Mint tea in Morocco. It has bright green, crinkled leaves and produces small white flowers. Moroccans also use Mentha viridus leaves for tea which is another spearmint closely related to spicata.
These forms of spearmint are highly fragrant with a sweet, mint flavour.
Moroccan Mint belongs to the Lamiaceae family along with 20 other Mentha species including Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) which is widely used in Morocco for medicinal purposes.
Pennyroyal is a beautiful, highly aromatic yet rather controversial mint, although used widely in Morocco it is a herb to be treated with some caution. It was a much revered herb of the past recommended for the treatment of many disorders from headaches to leprosy (botanical.com).
Pennyroyal contains the highly toxic pulegone which has been linked to ill effects (even deaths) in humans mainly due to liver toxicity. The essential oil should never be ingested. Historically, Pennyroyal has been used to induce abortions as it has a strong uterine-stimulating action initiating menstration. The consensus seems to be low doses used in the hands of professionals only.
The leaves of Pennyroyal, either dry or fresh, are very effective at repelling insects.
How To Grow Moroccan Mint
Mint is generally an easy perennial plant to grow, it is hardy and usually prolific, creeping along the ground using rhizomes and often emerging all over the place.
Moroccan mint is not fussy about soil types and can tolerate very low temperatures, it does enjoy full sunshine but thirves well in partial shade particularly if its roots can stay cool.
You can grow Moroccan mint from seeds or buy plants, you may wish to keep it in a container near the house, the benefits of this are that it will not take over the garden and it is handy to pick the leaves for tea.
What Are The Benefits Of Moroccan Mint?
Moroccan mint is a nutritious herb with high vitamin and mineral levels to ingest either as tea or in cooking. Moroccan mint is highly antioxidant as it contains epigallocatechin gallate which is the polyphenol also found in green tea. The combination of green tea and mint make Moroccan Mint Tea a very healthy beverage.
How To Use Moroccan Mint
How To Make Traditional Moroccan Mint Tea
Ingredients & Equipment
Tea: 1 tablespoon of Chinese gunpowder green tea
Mint: 1 large, fresh bunch of spearmint leaves
Sugar: Depends on taste 0-6 tbsps
Water: 1/2 liter of boiling water
Equipment: A traditional Moroccan teapot (or small stovetop kettle) and heatproof tea glasses
METHOD
• For this recipe, you will need a Moroccan teapot or a stovetop kettle. A stovetop kettle is a kettle you can safely place and use on your stovetop.
• In a clean pot, pour the gunpowder tea and half a cup of the boiled water. Let the tea simmer for a minute and pour out the water in a separate cup. If using a stovetop kettle, strain the water to keep the tealeaves inside the pot. Set this cup aside as it contains the essence of the tea. Don’t discard it.
• Repeat the same process, pour half a cup of the boiled water in the same teapot but this time, swirl the teapot a couple of times to rinse to the tea leaves. If using a stovetop kettle, strain the water to keep the tealeaves inside the pot. Pour out the water and discard it.
• Now, insert the fresh mint, sugar and first cup of water you set aside earlier. Fill the teapot with the remaining boiled water and let gently simmer over medium-low heat until it comes to a boil. It’s important to let the tea slowly come to a boil to enable the gunpowder tea and fresh mint to steep properly. If you use a Moroccan teapot, you will see steam coming from the teapot when it’s boiling.
• When it comes to a boil, carefully open the teapot and with a large spoon, stir the tea to make sure that the sugar is well dissolved. Serve hot. if using a stovetop kettle, use a small strainer when pouring into each glass to retain the gunpowder tealeaves.
• If desired, place some fresh mint in each tea cup/glass to obtain a stronger fresh mint aroma and to decorate your tea cups/glasses.
The pour of the tea from the sliver teapot forms part of the ceremony of Mint tea drinking and should be skillfully poured from a height of at least 12 inches to create a frothy film on top of the glass. Etiquette dictates that the host, often male, would serve the tea and an old Maghrebi proverb explains how the flavour profile changes as the tea brews- 'The Rule of Three'-
The first glass is gentle as life,
The second is strong as love,
The third is as bitter as death.
Cooking With Moroccan Mint
Chop fresh Moroccan mint and add to dips and salads, add to Tabouleh with parsley and the aubergine dip, Baba Ganoush.
Moroccan mint can be mixed with marinades for skewers and added to tagines and rice dishes.
Often in Morocco you will find Virgin Mojitos with lemon and fresh mint. Moroccan mint is also excellent in many deserts including sorbet and ice cream.
Medicinal Use of Moroccan Mint
Spearmint is used by Western Herbalists and has the following actions-
Antispasmodic
Carminative
Diaphoretic
Stimulant
In Western Herbal Medicine Spearmint would be used for fevers, colds and flu, indigestion, IBS symptoms, headache and memory issues and to improve appetite. Usually recommended as an infusion.
Herbalists in Morocco mainly prescribe the leaves of Moroccan Mint 43%, they also prescribe the bark 18% and the roots 18%. They use mint species to treat the following (Hassani, 2020)
Diabetes
Hypertension
Cardiac diseases
Rheumatism
Migraine
Respiratory disease
Gastrointestinal disorders
Pain
Fever
Nervous disorders
Obesity
Musculoskeletal issues
Gynaecological issues
Endocrinological issues
Urinary disorders
Skin issues
The mint will be prepared as either a decoction, orally ingested, inhalant or applied externally.
It was found in this particular study that the essential oil of Mentha pulegium when used with honey has a particular synergistic action (Hassani, 2020) (Note- Pennyroyal Essential Oil should not be ingested).
Cosmetic Uses Of Moroccan Mint
Often Moroccan mint will be added to cosmetics for the refreshing spearmint fragrance and cooling properties. The essential oil is used in skincare adding a antimicrobial component to any formulations.
In Morocco, Mint is used in Hammam products such as clay masks (Ghassoul) to purify the skin.
Moroccan Mint Essential Oil
Choose Mint essential oil to help repel insects, purify the air and stimulate the mind.
Antifungal
Antibiotic
Antiviral
Antioxidant
Insecticidal
Derma-protective
Conservation
Sadly some Mentha species are becoming incredibly rare, even to the point of extinction in the wild. As mentioned above, the use of different mint species is area- specific, with some only being used in a very small area such as remote moutainous regions. Different species have been shown to have varying phytochemcial profiles producing varied actions and therefore being indicated for different uses.
It is vitally important to preserve these ethnobotanical relationships that have developed over many thousands of years, wild herbs growing in a given habitat will produce a unique phytochemical profile that will be used with accumulated knowledge by local experts to treat a local population. These unique relationships lie at the very heart of herbal medicine and this level of knowledge deserves protection- who knows what valuble secrets are held in the hands of the very few?
Join My New Facebook Group About Moroccan Herbs
An Immersive Herbal Tour Of Morocco - A Nomadic Herbalist & Timeless Fez Collaboration
Next spring, Nomadic Herbalist in conjunction with Timesless Fez will be hosting a unique Herbal Immersion aimed at those seeking slow, meaningful travel experiences that take them far beyond the usual tourist routes to get a rare glimpse into Morocco's thriving herbal heritage.
'Root & Remedies' is a four- day guided exploration to discover the medicinal plants of the Middle Atlas Mountains. This is a rare insight into foraging practices which are seldom seen and an opportunity to learn about Morocco's native herbs. The tour traces this ancient process from root to remedies, from the collection of raw plant material through to the finished products sold in the souks such as medicines in Souk Attarine and cosmetics in the Henna Souk.
Take part in the transformative processes of distillation and soap-making during hands-on workshops and begin with a guided, meditative sensory introduction to some key herbs.
Herbal tourism is a growing niche in sustainable, nature-based transformative travel which keeps traditions alive, preserving herbal heritage and supporting rural economies to continue foraging herbs.
It is important to give value to the wild landscapes of Morocco and preserve what grows there, alongisde this it is equally important to preserve the knowledge and wisdom of the foragers and those who transform raw herbal material into useful products. These are the people who speak to the plants and translate to the people, the alchemists and weavers of magic.
Where To Buy Moroccan Mint
If you are looking for plants check my Herbal Travel Directory for herb nurseries in the UK, many stock a large range of mint species.
You can visit these lovely nurseries which I highly recommend, alternatively buy your plants online-
Teas & Accessories
Essential Oil
Mentha pulegium Essential Oil (do not ingest)
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