Have you ever had mint tea? If you ever visit Morocco, I guarantee that you will. Every place that our group visited, we were served mint tea.
Mint tea is green tea prepared with sugar and spearmint leaves. It is served very hot, poured from a Moroccan pot held high in the air into small crystal glasses.
From museums to riads to restaurants to hotels to carpet shops, every place served mint tea to us upon arrival. We visited a Bedouin family in the desert and as we sat on the floor of their family tent, guess what they brought out to serve us? Mint tea.
Mint tea is deeply rooted in the culture of Morocco and is a sure sign of their hospitality and welcoming attitude toward guests. I was constantly impressed and moved by such hospitality.
The Bible has a lot to say about hospitality. I Peter 4:9 says, “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” The writer of the book of Hebrews encourages, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” (13:2)
Is it possible that some of our churches need to relearn the practice of hospitality to those outside the church? May God forgive us for sometimes giving the impression that the church is a closed members-only club.
The last book of the Bible has this invitation, “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17)
Drinking so much mint tea in Morocco reminded me once again of the importance of hospitality.