Tea is a very important part of social life in Saharawi society. Not just any tea. The proper way to make it involves boiling the tealeaves on a pot on a small open fire & pouring the contents from a great height into the glasses & from one glass to another. This creates froth & the froth stops sand getting in. Lots of sugar is used. It takes a long time. And it is not polite to leave before the process is completed. Three cups will be made. The first is strong ("like death", it was explained to me and other visting Westerners); the second normal ("like life"); the third weak ("like love").
Aduja Ali Salem, with daughter Ashbyla, aged 6, Smara refugee camp, Algeria/Western Sahara border:
Saharawi people will make tea this way anywhere:
Froth, death, life and love. Brilliant.
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