In Marrakech, nothing begins without a glass of tea. So it is with tea that we open this first chapter of the Medina Newsletter, brought to you by Côté Bougie.
On the first of every month, the brand shares a ritual here: a candle, a scent, a story, a recipe. A moment suspended in time, to be savored by candlelight.
This month, we invite you to our table: mint tea just as it’s served in the riads, two candles crafted by artisans, and a fragrance that captures the memory of it all.
In our workshop in Marrakech, each handcrafted candle is conceived as a fragment of the Moroccan art of living: a ceramic piece shaped by a potter, hand-poured wax, and a scent that evokes a place. Mint tea, a symbol of hospitality throughout the kingdom, was the natural starting point for this series of stories.
The Art of Mint Tea
In Morocco, tea isn’t simply prepared—it’s a ceremony. Every gesture has its meaning, from the first pour of water that’s discarded to the foam that crowns the glass.
A Moroccan Tradition
Green tea from China became established in Morocco through trade, and fresh mint turned it into a drink unlike any other in the world. Served at any time of day and offered to every guest, Moroccan mint tea is much more than just a recipe—it’s a way of welcoming guests. It’s considered impolite to refuse the first cup; it’s even said that the third cup seals the bond of friendship.
The traditional recipe
The essentials for a 75 cl teapot: one tablespoon of gunpowder green tea, a generous bunch of fresh mint, and three to five sugar cubes, depending on your taste.
The ritual:
- Wake up the tea. Pour a small glass of simmering water over the leaves, swirl it around, then pour it out—it removes the bitterness.
- Steep. Add the mint and sugar, pour boiling water over them, and let it steep for three to four minutes.
- Blend the flavors. Pour a glass of the tea and pour it back into the teapot two or three times.
- Pour from a height. Lift the teapot above the glass: the foam that forms is a sign of a perfectly brewed tea.
Our secrets for a perfect cup of tea
Choose very fresh mint, ideally spearmint (the star of Moroccan markets), and keep the stems: they add body to the infusion. Avoid letting the tea steep for too long, or it will become bitter. Finally, serve it in small, colorful glasses: the light shining through them is part of the pleasure.
Tamegroute, the Green of the Desert
At the gateway to the Sahara, in the Drâa Valley, the potters of Tamegroute have been preserving a deep, almost mineral-like green glaze for centuries. No two pieces are exactly alike.
Our Tamegroute candle is hand-poured there. Placed next to the teapot, it complements the colorful glasses in the set; once its flame is extinguished, the ceramic remains, a work of art in its own right.
Tamegroute pottery: a rare craft
Near Zagora, the village of Tamegroute is famous for its green pottery, fired in traditional kilns. The glaze flows freely over the clay, creating darker or lighter shades and giving each pot its own unique character. Choosing a Tamegroute pottery candle means bringing a piece of authentic Moroccan craftsmanship into your home.
Where should you place it?
On a coffee table, next to a tea tray, or in the center of a set table, its deep green complements natural woods, linen, and sandy tones. Once the candle has burned out, the pot can be used as a planters, a trinket dish, or a vase.
Khaki Atlas: Mint in the Shade of the Cedars
Hand-painted arch by arch, this ceramic piece draws its pattern from the doors and arcades of the medina, and its khaki green from the cedars of the Middle Atlas.
Inside, the Mint & Tea fragrance: the freshness of freshly picked leaves, the sweetness of green tea—like a glass served in the shade of a riad.
A hand-painted ceramic piece
Each arch is hand-painted by an artisan using a brush, without a stencil. The slight irregularities in the lines are the hallmark of a handmade object—the opposite of mass production. The white of the ceramic and the khaki green of the pattern add a touch that is both graphic and natural, making it easy to pair with both modern and bohemian decor.
A mint and tea scented candle
The Mint & Tea fragrance opens with fresh, vibrant green notes, then softens into a hint of warm, slightly sweet tea. A fresh and soothing scent, perfect for a living room, entryway, or reading nook.
Scent of the Month: Mint & Tea
To ensure the ritual doesn’t end when the flame goes out, the Mint & Tea fragrance is also available as a home fragrance. A subtle and fresh presence, from one room to the next.
Candles and home fragrances complement each other: candles set the mood in the evening, while home fragrances freshen the space during the day—without a flame. Together, they create a consistent scent signature throughout the home.
Create a mint tea atmosphere at home
To capture the spirit of a Marrakech riad, all it takes is a few elements: a brass tray, colorful tea glasses, a lit Tamegroute or khaki Atlas candle nearby, and a few sprigs of mint in a small vase. Add natural textiles and soft lighting: let the ritual begin.
Tip from the workshop
When lighting the candle for the first time, let it burn for one to two hours, until the wax has melted across its entire surface. This initial melting process determines how the candle will burn for the rest of its life.
