#maghrb

1 – Experience the simplest food

The taste and texture of Moroccan food is one you’ve never tasted before. On every corner of the slowing streets, you'll find homemade bread baked in people their wood-fired ovens. At restaurants, they serve you typical Moroccan dishes of couscous, fish, spices, and vegetables. You can’t leave the restaurant without a cup of freshly made mint tea. this is often a practice in Morocco, not only for the companionship except for the health benefits, as well.

Get your breakfast at Plaza Uta el-Hammam which is the town’s square. For lunch or dinner, we highly recommend Restaurant Populaire Bab Ssour.

2 – Sunrise and Sunset in Chefchaouen

Waking up within the early morning, get to the rooftop of your riad and luxuriate in the foremost magical sunrise you'll see during your trip.

And if you're down in another sunset moment, then climb up all the thanks to the on a hill located Spanish Mosque where you'll have an ideal view over the town.

3 – Wander around within the Medina

Explore the narrow alleys and steep climbs within the Medina (the old blue city). Be amazed at how every corner you get around maybe a different shade of blue.

4 – Shopping within the Medina

Chefchaouen may be a popular shopping destination also, because it offers many native handicrafts that aren't available anywhere else in Morocco, like wool garments and woven blankets. The chevre is additionally fashionable tourists and served with many dishes.

5 – Get a call at the character around Chefchaouen

We didn’t do that ourselves but we’ve heard a couple of good experiences from travelers. There are 3 main belongings you should do if you wish to ascertain some nature.

Ras El Maa Waterfall

Bridge of God

Hiking Talassemtane park

6 – Enjoy the gorgeous bus ride to Fes

If you’re traveling around Morocco it is often an honest option to take the local bus to Fes. the gorgeous scenery you'll see during the trip is worth a couple of hours during a bus.

How to get to Chefchaouen

Outdoor enthusiasts will love mountains, beaches, and deserts

If you are the quite traveler who prioritizes a destination’s natural wonders, Morocco features a vast number of regions to explore, from the Atlas Mountains to the rock archway of Legzira Beach. you'll search for fossils within Western Sahara or observe the unique ecosystems at the oasis near Ouarzazate to the south.

Trace the steps of a Greek demi-god in Cave of Hercules near Gibraltar, or head to Friouato Cave to require a dip in an underground river in Tazekka park east of Fez. You’ll see everything from goats perched high in olive trees to Catcus Thiemann, the world’s largest cactus farm north of Marrakech.

Morocco’s resplendent tombs

Morocco has been home to humankind for a minimum of 300,000 years, and unsurprisingly, that long history has resulted in many tombs and cemeteries well worth a visit. a number of them are very intricate and delightful, like the lavish Saadian Tombs or Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and therefore the recently renovated Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. Others, just like the 14th-century ruins of the Merenid Tombs or Miaara Cemetery – the most important Jewish cemetery in Morocco – are fascinating places to find out more about Morocco’s past and the myriad of cultures.

Ancient ruins

While cities like Tangier and Rabat boast contemporary wonders like one among the fastest bullet trains in Africa and therefore the Mohammed VI modern art museum, you'll never quite escape the past in Morocco. shortly from the town of Meknes, you’ll find the Roman ruins of Volubilis, a predecessor city dating back to around the second century AD that's now a Unesco world heritage site.

Volubilis is one among many archeological treasures peeking out from corners everywhere the country, just like the Phoenician settlement of Lixus, dating back to the 7th century. The Roman historian Plinius claimed Lixus was home to the mythological garden of Hesperides, where consistent with myth Hercules stole the golden apples of data.

The medinas of Morocco

Even if you’ve never visited Morocco, you’ve probably heard of medinas or the oldest historic quarters of the many cities throughout the Arab world. getting into the medina is like taking a walk back in time, though these districts are still considered a neighborhood of lifestyle in Morocco.

The medina of Fez, also referred to as the Fes Al Bali is home to mosques, ancient buildings, and therefore the Kairaouine University. Kairaouine is that the oldest education institution within the world, and has been in continuous operation since the year 859. While it’s not the sole historic district within the city or maybe in Morocco, the medieval medina of Fez may be a Unesco World Heritage site, and permanently reason.

So are the medinas of Tetouan and Marrakech, which both have their own charms. Tetouan is particularly untouched by time and has ties to Spanish Andalucía, while the Marrakech medina is usually called “The Red City” for its warm ochre walls.

Perhaps the foremost picturesque Medinah in Morocco is that of Chefchaouen – a labyrinth of vibrant blue walls set within the countryside near the Rif mountains. no matter which medina you select, finding the kasbah (a central fortified watchtower) is typically easier than finding the answer.

Moroccan mosques

Morocco’s historic mosques are architectural gems also as centers of spiritual and community life. The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, as an example, is one among the world's largest mosques and is made on both land and sea. The Spanish Mosque in Chefchaouen was built, because the name implies, by the Spanish during a period of colonization within the 1920s, but the mosque was quickly abandoned after construction. Today it serves primarily as a hiking landmark from which the blue city is best viewed.

Another nearly-abandoned mosque is that the Hassan Tower in Rabat. The 12th-century minaret was intended to be a part of the most important mosque within the world, but the project was never finished. Even the Kairaouine University in Fez features a mosque as a part of its historic campus. While many active mosques are off-limits to non-Muslims, there are myriad older or incomplete mosques in Morocco which are hospitable tourists and house stories well worth discovering.

Gnawa music

Originally from West Africa, Gnawa may be a trance-inducing genre of music that feels spiritual and organic. Gnawa musicians are respected artists who incorporate poetry and dance in their moving performances. The music brings crowds to the tiny town of Essaouira per annum at the Gnawa World Music Festival. The event may be a must for anyone seeking opportunities to possess deep connections with nature et al. through art.

Atlas Film Studio

In Ouarzazate, Atlas Film Studio is that the world’s largest movie studio, where memorabilia from Star Wars, The Mummy, and Gladiator waste away within the desert sun. Cinephiles will love an opportunity to tour blockbuster film locations for classics from Casablanca to Game of Thrones. Even the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise filmed here, during a full circle from the real-life Barbary pirates who routinely sailed from the African coast across the Atlantic and back.

Souks and hammams

In a tradition as ancient as Morocco’s medinas, vendors gather every day in markets called souks to show over everything from fresh produce to meat, leathers, and residential decor. In some cities, like Marrakesh, there are sprawling souks specifically for various categories of products, from rugs and slippers to spices and metalwork.

While souks are scattered across every city and may be found in most medinas, the Habous market (also referred to as the New Medina) in Casablanca is one among the foremost well-known. Here craftsmen found out shops filled with handmade goods. Not too far from them, spiced olives season the breeze and just beyond the olives await more treats to be found.

After you’ve haggled it call at the souks, head to at least one of the general public bathhouses referred to as hammams. This tradition dates back to the sixth century and still lives on in Morocco. there's a spectrum of hammams that range from luxury to everyday bathing. Hammams are segregated by gender and typically employ individuals to wash and massage customers with a singular and thorough soap. As there are numerous hammams, it’s best to ask a guide or resident for recommendations within the city or neighborhood where you’re staying.

Morocco's famous mint tea

Outside of the country, Moroccan mint tea may be a name that’s slapped on countless labels of tea bags, though the steaming elixir is nearly a completely different drink. rather than being served during a mug, Moroccan tea warms clear glass cups that refract deep green bundles of freshly plucked leaves, herbs, and flowers. a typical order contains generous spoonfuls of sugar, but presumably one can expect a couple of extra cubes on the side of the saucer.

Learn Darija

Moroccan Arabic is usually considered one among the foremost difficult dialects of the entire language, perhaps because it’s so interspersed with a dizzying blend of French, Spanish, and Amazigh. Even within this umbrella term of Darija, there are multiple sub-dialects spoken in several regions of the country.

Ingredients

Makes 6 servings

1 Tbsp (15 ml) loose Chinese gunpowder tea

5 cups (1.2 L) boiling water, divided

3 to 4 Tbsp (45 to 60 ml) sugar

1 large bunch fresh peppermint, about 1 oz (28 g)

PART 1 . Activating the Tea Leaves

1 Boil 1 cup (240 ml) of water

Fill a tea kettle or small saucepan with 1 cup of water, and bring it to a boil on the stove over medium-high heat.

You can prepare the full amount of water during this step, but you'll only use 1 cup (240 ml) when activating the tea leaves. The rest of the water may need to be reheated before use.

Note that the water should be between 158°F and 176°F (70°c and 80°c).

2 Warm the teapot 

Pour 1/4 cup (60 ml) of boiled water into the clean teapot. Swirl the water around slightly to rinse and warm the pot.

If possible, attempt to use a Moroccan teapot. Moroccan teapots vary in size, but alittle pot typically holds a few half liter (six glasses) of tea, while a bigger pot holds approximately a liter (12 glasses); you'll also use a standard teapot if you do not have a Moroccan one. Flameproof teapots are ideal when available

3 Add the loose gunpowder tea

Place the tea leaves within the tea pot. you will need about 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of loose gunpowder tea for each 6 oz (177ml) of predicament . If following the quantities noted during this recipe, add the complete amount of leaves.

Chinese gunpowder tea is that the most conventional, but if you're unable to seek out this tea, you'll prepare an identical version of this drink using other loose tea leaves or tea bags. Use a minimum of 2 tea bags for each 1 Tbsp (15 ml) of loose tea if choosing this feature . 

4 Pour within the remaining 3/4 cup (200 ml) of water.

 Add boiling water to the tea pot, directly over the tea leaves currently within the pot. Swirl the pot gently to warm, rinse, and activate the tea leaves.

5 Steep briefly.

Allow the tea to steep within the predicament for about 30 seconds.[6] For a stronger flavor, you would possibly consider letting it steep for as long as 1 or 2 minutes. 

6 Strain the water. 

Swirl the pot to scrub and rinse the tea leaves, then carefully strain the water out through the spout of the tea pot, keeping the leaves within the pot.

The drained liquid isn't Moroccan tea. this first portion of water only rinses the leaves.

Some tea pots have strainers in them; others don't . If your pot doesn't have its own strainer, confirm that you simply pour the contents through a separate strainer to gather the leaves and return them to the pot.

PART 2 . Steeping the Tea

1 Add subsequent ingredients to the teapot

This includes mint leaves and therefore the sugar. Add them on to the wet tea leaves within the pot.

Try to find a Middle Eastern grocery . Moroccan mint features a different taste than most other mints. If you're unable to seek out Moroccan mint, use any spearmint or peppermint.

Cane sugar is best. Dextrose also will work if you do not wish to use cane sugar, but you will need to double the quantities of sugar to make sure sweetness.

2 Fill the pot with the remaining water. 

If you boiled the water previously and it still feels hot enough, you'll add it immediately. If not, boil the remaining 4 cups (1 L) before adding it to the pot.

Leave the tea to steep for about 5 minutes.

If you've got a Moroccan teapot or a heatproof teapot, instead of steeping, set the teapot over low heat and convey the tea to a coffee simmer. Then, immediately remove from the warmth , and permit to steep several minutes more.

3 Pour one glass of tea. 

Pour it back to the teapot. do that three or more times. This helps dissolve the sugar.

4 Pour the tea from a high distance.

 Doing this may help to make a skinny layer of froth on the highest . When pouring, confirm the tea pellets stick with the tea inside the pot. Only fill the cup two-thirds full; this permits the aroma to develop fully.

5 Enjoy! After pouring the remaining tea, 

garnish the tea with extra mint (if available). this is often an optional step but makes it look fantastic, especially if you've got proper Moroccan glasses.

Tips

This tea has 24 calories and 6g of sugar per serving.

Carefully pour the tea therefore the tea pellets stay inside the pot. you'll use a strainer if it helps.

Traditionally the tea is served 3 times , and therefore the amount of your time the tea has been steeping gives each of the three glasses of tea a singular flavor, so have everyone drink 3 cups, during this case the 2 persons.

Hearty start in Fez

As day breaks, the small food stalls inside Bab Boujloud (the blue gate) within the imperial city of Fez serve warm bowls of bissara, a soup made up of split broad beans. full of protein and drizzled with vegetable oil , this rich and creamy blend is best scooped up with fresh, hot-out-of-the-local-oven bread and washed down with a sugary cup of mint tea. Add msimen, a Moroccan pancake fried on an open grill within the street, either plain or full of tomato, onion, and olive and smothered in Laughing Cow cheese, for a breakfast which will leave you full until dinner. Breakfast isn’t the sole thing the town is understood for. As Morocco's culinary capital, Fez is additionally famed for pigeon pastilla (also mentioned as bastilla), a dish traditionally served to sultans and today cooked for special occasions. Pastilla, which is full of chicken; sweetened with cinnamon, powdered sugar and ground almonds; and covered with a filo-like pastry, are often picked up from one among the street-side stalls lining the alleys near Bab Boujloud.

Feasting on lamb in Marrakesh

It’s not just foreign travellers who head to Marrakesh’s Mechoui Alley, just off the always-busy square of Djemaa El Fna, but rather the opposite: Moroccans end up in droves. Underground ovens are full of lamb that's prepared on a spit before being cooked for several hours. Once the meat is so tender it’s literally slump the bone, it's seasoned with cumin and salt before being served by the quarter-kilo.

Famous across Morocco, the tanjia, a Marrakshi speciality prepared with cuts of lamb or beef, preserved lemons, smen (fermented butter) and a blend of spices, is slow cooked to perfection in this alleyway as well. Traditionally cooked over the same coals that heat the hammam, a clay pot is covered with butcher’s paper, sealed with string and cooked underground for approximately five hours until the spice blend has perfectly flavoured the meat. It's then served with the ubiquitous pot of sweet Moroccan tea. For the best tanjia in town, head to Hadj Mustapha, where the owner’s photos with Moroccan royalty are displayed proudly. This unassuming snack bar is popular with the local lunchtime crowd and on weekends when domestic tourists head here for Marrakesh's much-loved dish.

Taking chances in Marrakesh’s Djemaa El Fna

Foreign visitors give mixed reviews for the snails served at stalls found out around Djemaa El Fna, which are prepared during a herbal mix and scooped up with a toothpick, but don’t be surprised if you see locals slurping back the brew, which is claimed to assist digestion. If that’s your up your street, another speciality available at several stalls throughout the night market is that the sheep’s head, brain and tongue, an area treat steamed up in large pots and served to hungry guests with a cup of sugary tea. Other stalls on the square offer more standard options like kebabs if you do not desire happening a full-on culinary adventure. regardless of what you select , confirm to go to the stalls with the longest queues and therefore the most locals.

Best for going off the tourist trail: Casablanca

Rick’s Café could also be the foremost famous dining establishment in Casablanca given its connection to the film of an equivalent name, but those that dare to go off the tourist trail in search of local specialities are well rewarded. Poke around Casa Port railway station until you discover the essential hole-in-the-wall eateries serving hot plates of mqila, an omelette served with fresh shrimp from the nearby Atlantic and cubes of Laughing Cow cheese thrown in. this is not fine dining, but you're bound to have a street-side feast, and you'll grab a cup of tea from the server as he wanders by with a tray full to scrub it all down.

Eat cannon fodder sort of a local in Essaouira

In seaside Essaouira, ground sardines are mixed with fresh coriander and spiced with ground cumin, pepper and paprika to make a kind of meatball before they're stuffed into a loaf of bread. While the work involved in getting the sardine meat is laborious, the sandwiches themselves sell for mere dirhams at small kitchens throughout the old city. you'll also head to the fish market and detect your own fresh catch before stopping by the nearby grills and having your selection prepared to your liking. Served with olives, fresh tomato salad, and sodas, this meal is actually dining sort of a local.

Sit streetside for a mixed grill in Moulay Idriss

From midday within the mountainside village of Moulay Idriss, you'll follow the smoke rising from the street-side grills for a few of the simplest barbecued kefta (ground beef seasoned with a mix of spices including paprika, cumin, coriander, and garlic) in Morocco, which is plated up alongside chargrilled tomatoes and onions. After lunch, wander up to the most square where you’ll find men selling colorful nougat crammed with pistachio and almonds before settling into an area cafe with a restaurant nus-nus (meaning half coffee, half milk) while watching the planet pass.

Foodie secret of the Sahara