Couscous is the national dish of Morocco and is eaten throughout North Africa. It is made from semolina wheat and usually served with a meat or vegetable stew spooned over the top. There are many delicious drinks that can accompany couscous to make a complete Moroccan meal. The most common drinks paired with couscous in Morocco are mint tea, lemonade, buttermilk, and homemade yogurt drinks.
Mint Tea
Mint tea is the most iconic Moroccan drink and is almost always served with couscous. It is made by steeping gunpowder green tea with fresh mint leaves and sugar. The tea develops a golden hue and refreshing minty flavor. Mint tea recipes can vary around Morocco, but often include adding wormwood as well. It is polite to pour the tea from high above the glasses to develop a frothy head. The tea is served hot or chilled. Hot mint tea aids digestion after a heavy couscous meal. Iced mint tea provides a cooling complement to the warm spices in the stew.
How to Make Moroccan Mint Tea
Here is an easy recipe to make authentic Moroccan mint tea at home:
| Ingredients | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Gunpowder green tea | 4-5 teaspoons |
| Fresh mint leaves | 1 large bunch |
| Granulated sugar | 4-6 teaspoons |
| Optional: Wormwood | 1 fresh sprig |
Instructions:
- Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a teapot or saucepan.
- Remove from heat and add the loose tea leaves. Let steep for 3-5 minutes.
- Add a large bunch of fresh mint leaves, the sugar, and the wormwood sprig if using. Allow to steep for another 5-7 minutes.
- Taste and adjust sweetness as desired. The tea should have a nice balance between minty flavor and sweetness.
- Pour the tea into small glasses from about 6 inches above them to create foam.
- Serve the tea alongside couscous dishes hot or chilled over ice.
Lemonade
Fresh lemonade is another excellent beverage pairing for Moroccan couscous. Lemons grow abundantly in Morocco and adding lemon juice helps cut through the richness of couscous. Traditional Moroccan lemonade is made simply by squeezing fresh lemon juice, adding sugar, and diluting with water. Mint or orange blossom water are also sometimes added to make flavored lemonades. Lemons provide a refreshing dose of vitamin C as well. For special occasions, lemonade can also be turned into a delicious Moroccan cocktail by adding a splash of gin or vodka.
Basic Moroccan Lemonade Recipe
| Ingredients | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Fresh lemon juice | 1 cup |
| Granulated sugar | 1/2 cup |
| Water | 3-4 cups |
| Optional: Mint leaves | Handful |
| Optional: Orange blossom water | 1 tsp |
Instructions:
- Squeeze 1 cup of fresh lemon juice from about 5-6 large lemons.
- Dissolve the 1/2 cup sugar in 1 cup hot water and let cool.
- Mix the lemon juice, sugar syrup, and 2-3 cups of cold water together until well combined.
- Taste and adjust sweetness or tartness as desired.
- To make a flavored lemonade, add some torn mint leaves or orange blossom water.
- Chill the lemonade before serving alongside couscous.
Buttermilk
Cultured buttermilk is a beloved beverage in Morocco and other parts of North Africa. The cool tanginess helps balance out the rich flavors and fats of couscous. Buttermilk can be consumed plain, flavored with mint or spices, or turned into a smooth lassi-style drink. Traditional buttermilk in Morocco is made by leaving raw milk to ferment and culture naturally before churning the remaining liquid into butter. The leftover cultured milk is the buttermilk. Nowadays, most Moroccans purchase commercially made buttermilk. When served with couscous, plain buttermilk is most common.
How to Make Moroccan Buttermilk
While authentic buttermilk uses time-consuming traditional methods, you can make quick buttermilk at home by adding lemon juice or vinegar to regular milk:
| Ingredients | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Milk | 2 cups |
| Lemon juice or white vinegar | 2 tbsp |
Instructions:
- Pour 2 cups of milk into a liquid measuring cup or jar.
- Add 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice or white vinegar and stir gently to combine.
- Let the mixture sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to thicken.
- Refrigerate until chilled before serving with couscous.
Yogurt Drinks
Plain yogurt and yogurt drinks are another dairy beverage that pairs excellently with Moroccan couscous. Full-fat plain yogurt provides protein and calcium, and has a creamy tartness that counters the rich stew. Yogurt drinks can be made by simply whisking yogurt with water and mint until smooth and frothy. Other flavorings like fruit, honey, spices, or rose water are sometimes added as well. Carbonated yogurt drinks are also popular.
Easy Mint Yogurt Drink
| Ingredients | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Plain full fat yogurt | 2 cups |
| Cold water | 1-2 cups |
| Fresh mint leaves | 1/4 cup, loosely packed |
| Honey or sugar (optional) | 1-2 tsp |
Instructions:
- Place the yogurt, 1 cup of water, mint leaves, and sweetener if using in a blender.
- Blend until smooth and frothy, about 1 minute.
- Taste and adjust consistency by adding more water if needed, up to 2 cups total. It should be the thickness of a milkshake.
- Add more honey/sugar if desired for more sweetness.
- Pour over ice or refrigerate until chilled before drinking with couscous.
Other Non-Alcoholic Options
In addition to the most common drinks described above, there are other non-alcoholic beverages that Moroccans will enjoy with couscous:
- Fruit juices – Fresh orange, grapefruit, pomegranate or strawberry juice provide vitamin C.
- Soft drinks – Coke, Fanta, and Sprite are popular sodas.
- Bottled water – Still or sparkling water help hydration.
- Coffee – Moroccan coffee with spices or French-pressed coffee.
- Herbal teas – Such as verbena, geranium, or sage tea.
Having a good variety of drinks available allows each person to find something appealing with their meal.
Traditional Alcoholic Beverages
While Moroccan couscous is often a family meal, there are some traditional alcoholic beverages that can be enjoyed with it:
Wine
Morocco has a burgeoning wine industry using French grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Chardonnay. Both reds and whites pair well with the complex spices in couscous stews. Some good Moroccan wine labels to try are Les Celliers de Meknès, Domaine de Sahari, and Domaine Ziat. Offering a Moroccan wine is a gracious gesture for guests.
Beer
Moroccan beer has been made locally for nearly a century, originally introduced by the French. The main brands are Flag Spéciale and Casablanca. These light lagers are very drinkable with couscous. There are also some craft microbreweries making interesting new styles like amber ale and passionfruit beer.
Anise Drinks
Anise-flavored liquors like raki, ouzo, and arak are quite popular in Morocco. The anise taste pairs surprisingly well with couscous seasonings like cumin, cinnamon, and caraway. Dilute with water or sip the liqueurs straight as apéritifs.
Conclusion
Couscous is more than just a dish – the accompanying beverages are an integral part of the full Moroccan culinary experience. Sipping mint tea, lemonade, or buttermilk allows the flavors of the meal to shine through. Having a selection of both non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks shows hospitality and gives guests options. When serving couscous at home, take inspiration from Moroccan tradition and provide an array of delicious beverages for the ultimate meal.