Arab Tea: Different Types And Their Names In Arabic
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Tea is a central part of Arab tradition and is consumed in every country where Arabic is spoken. It's a social drink in Middle Eastern culture, and is customarily served to guests.
How to say tea in Arabic
The word for tea in Arabic is شاي (pronounced shay).
Like the English word tea and other global variations, it traces its origin back to East Asia (China).
The importance of tea in Arab culture
Tea is more commonly consumed than coffee in Arab culture, and people generally drink it at every meal, including dinner. It's also more common for Arabs to drink tea without milk (unlike English culture where it is more common), though some people do prefer it this way. Arabs also tend to use heavy amounts of sugar in their teas, making them quite sweet.
Cups are usually made of glass and pinched between two fingers (or glass cups with handles). Porcelain cups are less common.
Different types of Arab teas
While there are some common characteristics of tea in the Middle East and North Africa, there are some differences and preferred types depending on where you go.
This is not an exhaustive list, but these are the main types you'll encounter:
English | Transliteration | Arabic |
---|---|---|
Black (red) tea | shay a7mar | شاي أحمر |
Mint tea | shay bi-na3na3 | شاي بالنعناع |
Cardamom | hal | هال |
Chamomile | babunaj | بابونج |
Anise | yansun | يانسون |
Sage | maryamiya | مريمية |
Thyme | z3tar | زعتر |
Green tea | shay a5dar | شاي أخضر |
Black tea
Arabic: شاي أحمر
Transliteration: shay a7mar
Standard black tea. This is an umbrella term that could include English Breakfast or Earl Gray variations of black tea for example.
Mint tea
Arabic: شاي بالنعناع
Transliteration: shay bi-na3na3
Mint tea is extremely popular in most Middle Eastern countries and is usually a cup of regular black tea (see above) with a lot of sugar and a bunch of fresh mint submerged in the cup. It's refreshing and good for the bowels.
There is a variation of this mint tea found commonly in the Maghrib (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, etc.) which uses spearmint leaves in place of regular mint for a stronger flavor.
Cardamom tea
Arabic: هال
Transliteration: hal
Cardamom is a common spice used in Arab food and beverages. It's extremely common (and delicious!) ground up in Arab coffee, but it's also commonly used in tea as well. It's also great for your liver and acts as a natural anti-inflammatory.
Chamomile tea
Arabic: بابونج
Transliteration: babunaj
Chamomile flower is used all over the world for its calming benefits. It's great as a sleep aid. Arabs also consume chamomile tea (though less common).
Anise tea
Arabic: يانسون
Transliteration: yansun
Anise is actually native to Egypt, so it's no surprise that the Egyptians and neighboring cultures use it in their teas and other consumables. It has a strong licorice taste and a wide range of health benefits.
Sage tea
Arabic: مريمية
Transliteration: maryamiya
Sage is native to the Mediterranean region and has been consumed for centuries. It's commonly used in tea (either added to regular tea or made on its own) and is extremely beneficial as a high antioxidant source.
Thyme tea
Arabic: زعتر
Transliteration: z3tar
Thyme is another native herb to the Mediterranean region (Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine most notably). It's a good course of Vit C and potassium, and is frequently consumed on foods and as tea.
Green tea
Arabic: شاي أخضر
Transliteration: shay a5dar
While not as much of a common beverage in the Arab world, some Arabs do prefer green tea for its health benefits.