The Consulate of the Kingdom of Morocco in Istanbul hosted a ceremony yesterday, in collaboration with Morocco’s Tourism Office (ONMT) and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, “to honor tea as cultural heritage and a symbol of hospitality shared by Morocco and Turkey,” according to Morocco’s News Agency (MAP).
The gathering featured a presentation on the ancestral traditions surrounding Moroccan mint tea, as well as an overview of the characteristics of Morocco’s national beverage.
Attendees also had the opportunity to sample authentic Moroccan pastries and discover Moroccan traditional attire, including the original caftan. The extravaganza also exhibited Moroccan calligraphy and musical performances drawing on popular Moroccan heritage.
The ceremony also included a display of the origins and characteristics of Turkish tea, which forms an inseparable component of the Turkish identity.
“Tea represents the noblest social values belonging to the heritage of the Moroccan and Turkish peoples,” the Kingdom’s Consul General in Istanbul, El Mehdi Rami, said. “It is an intangible heritage that joins the rich Moroccan and Turkish cultures.”
He noted “the importance of promoting and preserving the distinctive aspects of this heritage in both countries,” MAP reported.
Representatives from foreign consular missions in Istanbul, the private and public sectors of both countries, civil society institutions, as well as Moroccan, Arab, and African communities resident in Turkey attended the event.
Celebrated on May 21, International Tea Day recognizes the contributions of the tea industry, promotes fair trade, and encourages investment in the sector.