19/05/2026
โ๏ธ๐ซโ๏ธ๐๐ช๐ฃ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฉ ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ โ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ฉโ๐จ ๐ฅ๐ค๐ช๐ง๐๐ ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ค๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ช๐๐ก. ๐๐๐ โ3 ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐๐จโ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐จ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ก ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ฉ. ๐๐๐ฎ 3 ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐๐จ?
Itโs called *โ3 cups of teaโ* or _atay bil naโnaa_. Each pour has a meaning and a different taste profile:
๐ญ. *๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฟ: โ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒโ*
You pour a small amount, taste it. Itโs strong, hot, and a bit bitter from the green tea. It wakes you up and sets the tone. You drink this slowly, with respect.
๐ฎ. *๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฟ: โ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒโ*
You add more hot water, swirl the pot, and pour again. Now the mint and sugar have blended in. Itโs sweeter, smoother, more balanced. This is when conversation really starts.
๐ฏ. *๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฟ: โ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ตโ*
Final pour. The tea is lighter, very sweet, very fragrant. Itโs the relaxing, winding-down cup. People linger over this one.
The saying changes a bit by region, but thatโs the core idea.
โ๏ธ๐ซ๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ช๐๐ก๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐ค ๐๐ฉ
1. *๐ง๐ฒ๐ฎ*: Green gunpowder tea is used. A spoonful goes in the teapot with boiling water, swirled and discarded once to โwashโ it.
2. *๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ + ๐ฆ๐๐ด๐ฎ๐ฟ*: Fresh spearmint and a lot of sugar go in. Tunisians like it sweet.
3. *๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฟ*: The key is height. They pour from 30-50cm above the glass. That aerates the tea, creates a light foam on top called _la mousse_, and cools it slightly.
4. *๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐น*: You pour a little into a glass, pour it back into the pot, repeat 2-3 times. That mixes everything and develops the flavor. you pour for guests, always filling glasses only halfway so you can hold the hot glass without burning yourself.
๐พ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐?
๐ซ*Hospitality*: Serving tea is how Tunisians welcome guests. Refusing the first cup can be seen as rude.
๐ซ*Conversation*: The 3 cups force you to slow down. No one rushes through it. Itโs for talking, negotiating, catching up.
๐ซSkill*: The higher you pour without spilling, the more skill you show. Itโs a bit of a performance.
Youโll see this everywhere in Tunisia โ in homes, on the street, at cafรฉs in Sidi Bou Said.
*Tunisian Tea Night ๐ต Oct '26*
3 pours, fresh mint, zero rush.
Come have yours with us โจ DM to join
Travel Itch
๐ธ Credit to respected owners
