In Barcelona there are small rituals that turn an ordinary afternoon into a memorable moment. One of them is mint tea, also known as Moroccan tea, green tea with mint or atay in the Arab world. More than just a drink, it is a ceremony full of hospitality, pause and conversation that you can discover without leaving the city, right in the heart of the Born.
What is the Arab tea ritual?
Mint tea is an age-old tradition that combines green tea (usually gunpowder), fresh mint leaves and sugar, served in a decorated teapot and poured from a considerable height to create foam. This gesture is not just for show: it symbolises generosity, respect for the guest and the desire to share time without rushing. In countries such as Morocco, Algeria or Tunisia, offering a mint tea is synonymous with welcome.
The ingredients that make this infusion special
- High-quality green tea, the aromatic, slightly bitter base.
- Fresh mint (or spearmint), bringing freshness and an unmistakable aroma.
- Sugar to taste, to balance the bitterness of the tea.
- Optionally, touches of orange blossom water, cinnamon or toasted pine nuts.
The serving: an art in itself
Pouring the tea from a height is neither an accident nor a gratuitous spectacle: it aerates the infusion, enhances the aromas and creates that characteristic foam every good host seeks to achieve. Behind every teapot there is technique, patience and care.
Experience the mint tea ritual in Barcelona
You don’t need to travel to Marrakech to enjoy this experience. At Ziryab, right in the Born neighbourhood, we bring back this Arab tradition and bring it to Barcelona in a warm, intimate and authentic atmosphere. Our mint tea is served as a moment of its own, perfect to accompany a leisurely sobremesa, a relaxed shisha session or a quiet chat with friends.
The perfect plan to disconnect
Whether after strolling through the medieval streets of the old town or as a closing to a Mediterranean tapas dinner, taking a break with a mint tea is a simple way to experience Arab culture up close and genuinely, without leaving the city.
We are waiting for you at Ziryab
Discover why mint tea, centuries later, remains a symbol of hospitality. Book your table at Ziryab and let yourself be carried away by the aromas, flavours and unhurried rhythm of this age-old tradition, in one of the most charming corners of Barcelona.