Thé à la Menthe Tunisien

Name: Thé à la Menthe Tunisien
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Tunisian
Ingredients: 2 tbsp green tea leaves; 1 large bunch fresh spearmint; 3 tbsp sugar or to taste; 2 tbsp pine nuts, lightly toasted; 800ml boiling water; Extra mint sprigs for glasses

تاي بالنعناع (TAY bil nah-NAH)

Tunisian Mint Tea with Pine Nuts

⏱ Prep Time 10 min

📈 Difficulty Easy

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 94 kcal

Sweet green tea infused with fresh mint and served with toasted pine nuts floating on top, a Tunisian social ritual and symbol of hospitality.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 1.0g

Carbs 18.0g

Fat 2.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

vegetarian vegan dairy-free gluten-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ tree nuts

Equipment Needed

small teapot tea glasses small saucepan

Presentation Guide

Vessel: small decorated tea glasses

Garnishes: pine nuts, fresh mint sprig

Accompaniments: Tunisian pastries, dates

Ingredients

2 tbsp green tea leaves
1 large bunch fresh spearmint
3 tbsp sugar or to taste
2 tbsp pine nuts, lightly toasted
800ml boiling water
Extra mint sprigs for glasses

Instructions

1
Rinse green tea leaves with a splash of boiling water, swirl for five seconds, and discard to remove bitterness.
2
Add rinsed tea, bruised mint leaves, and sugar to the teapot. Pour boiling water over and steep for four minutes.
3
Pour a glass and return it to the pot twice to mix the tea evenly and dissolve all the sugar thoroughly.
4
Toast pine nuts in a dry pan for two minutes until just golden, watching carefully as they burn quickly.
5
Pour tea into small glasses, drop a few toasted pine nuts into each glass, and add a fresh mint sprig.
6
Serve immediately while hot. In Tunisia, accepting tea is accepting friendship, and refusing is considered impolite.

💡

Did You Know?

The pine nuts floating in Tunisian tea distinguish it from all other North African mint teas and are non-negotiable for purists.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

small teapot
tea glasses
small saucepan

Garnishing

pine nuts, fresh mint sprig

Accompaniments

Tunisian pastries, dates

The Story Behind Thé à la Menthe Tunisien

Tunisian mint tea is instantly recognizable by its signature floating pine nuts, a tradition found nowhere else in North Africa. This small garnish transforms a common regional beverage into something uniquely Tunisian. The tea ritual arrived during the Ottoman period and was adapted with local mint and pine nuts from Tunisia's northern forests. Today, offering mint tea with pine nuts remains the most important gesture of Tunisian hospitality.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed all day, with guests 📜 Origins: Ottoman-influenced Tunisian

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