Mauritanian sweet tea

Tea ceremonies are widespread in Mali and Mauritania, as well as the rest of North Africa. The tea used in this recipe is Chinese green tea. The tea is brewed over embers before being poured into a second pot. The liquid is poured back and forth before being placed into glasses. Then from glass to glass again. To aerate the tea and generate a frothy foam on top, this is usually done from a great height above the pot or glass. It is a true art form that requires a great deal of work to master. It's also a long procedure; the ceremony can take hours at times. It is frequently prepared and served by the male of the home in both Mali and Mauritania.

Ingredients

• 4 Tablespoons green tea, 12 cups water, 2 cups sugar or more, 4 sprigs mint, 2 tea pots and 5 glasses

Instructions

• In a tea pot boil water with green tea leaves
• once boiled pour tea from one pot to the other several times
• Then from a great height above the glasses pour one glass and then continue pouring from glass to glass until a frothy foam appears, put the pot back on the fire and add in mint leaves and sugar. Repeat the process until each guest had three cups of tea.
• Serve with dates