The sweet smell of tea

It’s a waft of cotton candy should you be napping while the “Mali” thé is brewing*. Malians love their tea with sugar or sugar with their tea, after it has been brewed for over 30 minutes and the water starts to evaporate they pour in the sugar. It is an art to watch; many are prided on how much foam they can make in the glass when its served. You have to be skilled and have callused hands because its HOT to the touch. Burning coals, metal teapot, and tea served in glass shot glasses. It's hot stuff.

Tea is a big deal. I remember during home-stay (the training period in which Peace Corps leaves us with a Malian host family, days after we arrive in country) my host family would watch a soap opera that centered around one guy making tea through out the day. Scene never changed, people just came and went drinking tea. On transport you can still expect a shot of tea, either they brew it on the bus which is rare, but I’ve seen it or there are tea vendors at different stops.

PCV Geoff in good pour form

Also there are different brands and qualities, every Malian has their go to brand of tea, though its all imported from China and its all loose leaf green tea. The first round is the premiere, the strongest most bitter or most syrupy depending upon the amount of sugar added (that‘s when you get the faux cotton candy smell). When I first came to Mali drinking the first round, premiere, would give me headaches. I didn’t drink coffee or caffeinated beverages on the regular so it was quite a shock to my system. But I didn’t want to refuse so I took tea with my host family and again when visiting other trainees hanging out with their host families. The second round, deuxieme, less strong and my preffered choice. I now request the second round and usually pass on the first. And lastly there is occasionally a third round if time permits and people are willing to brew it, probably the equivalent of a green tea bag brew with slightly more sugar added than is needed.

I ni baradji. Thanks for the tea.

somewhere out there a man is selling tea... i just know it

*Tea in Mali Verte de Chine