Morocco by MasterChef Travel
The Moroccan souk is a window on the country’s culture and a place of wonder for food lovers.
To wander the labyrinthine alleyways, amid the wafts of exotic spices, the haggling of the carpet sellers and the stalls piled high with colourful produce is an enthralling experience.
Morocco’s cuisine has drawn on Arab, Moorish and Berber influences and remains distinct from other Mediterranean traditions, with its signature dishes such as couscous and tagines, washed down with fresh mint tea.
Create your own sumptuous tagine
Spend the morning at a riad to learn the secrets of the perfect tagine. Add fragrant spices, dried fruits and lamb or chicken to the conical tagine pot and simmer before serving with steaming couscous.
Spice it up with Ras el Hanout
This typical Moroccan spice mix can have up to 100 ingredients, ranging from ordinary spices like cardamom and cinnamon, to regional specialities like chufa, ash berries and grains of paradise.
Find your way round the souks
Wind your way through the colourful maze of the souks, each with an area of speciality. Find aromatic spices piled high, buckets of salty olives and stalls with cooked snails.
Dine on spicy Merguez sausage
Freshly prepared with lamb or beef, this sausage is flavoured with a mouth-watering mixture of cumin, fennel, garlic and harissa – creating a spicy, delicious and slightly red-coloured delicacy.
Enjoy a glass of traditional tea
Sip on a cup of warm, well-brewed green tea with mint leaves. The grassy flavour is uplifted by the fresh herbs, and is a perfect accompaniment to any Moroccan meal.
Five must-see attractions in and around Marrakech
Djemaa el-Fna
This Unesco world heritage site is the Marrakech’s central square is an exotically chaotic and timeless place. Here you can still find a 1,000-year-old scene of snake charmers, acrobats, fortune-tellers and potion sellers. At sunset, countless chefs start grilling kebabs sending smoke swirling among belly dancers and amateur boxers, storytellers and even the occasional dentist.
Ali ben Youssef Medersa
At the heart of Marrakech, the Ali ben Youssef Medersa is an exquisite 14th-century structure that was once north Africa's largest Islamic study centre. Intricately carved wooden balconies are lined with dormitories where up to 900 students once received higher education. The arcaded courtyard is particularly stunning, adorned with calligraphy, plaster-work, Atlas cedar and marble.
Souks
To wander the souks of Marrakech is to step back in time. Artisans using ancient tools continue trades such as blacksmithing, saddle-making and lute-carving. Stroll along the Rue Dar el-Bacha and glimpse inside medieval courtyard workshops where craftsmen carefully create zellij (puzzlework mosaics) and whittle orangewood into exquisite lattice screens.
Jardin Majorelle
Formerly owned by French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, the Majorelle Gardens are a delightful haven of birdsong and beauty amid the bustle of Marrakesh. The gardens are home to a glorious collection of rare flora from all corners of the world, laid out around a cobalt-blue art deco villa, built in 1931 by painter Jacques Majorelle.
Ourika Valley
For those seeking respite from the hubbub of Marrakech, a 45-minute drive towards the High Atlas mountains leads to the Ourika valley. Here, steep rock walls rise above a river lined with terraces of almond and cherry trees. Swing bridges tied together with rope lead to riverside restaurants, bedecked with red carpets spread out under the trees, where tagines bubble away on charcoal burners. At the end of the valley, a trail leads to seven waterfalls.
Location: In the north-western corner of the African continent, separated from Spain by the Strait of Gibraltar at the north. Morocco borders with Algeria to the east and south-east, and the Sahara desert to the south.
Capital: Rabat
Religion: Muslim (99%), Christian, Jewish
Etiquette:
- Wearing clothing that reveals arms, legs or shoulders can be seen to be disrespectful
- Sexual relations outside marriage (including homosexual conduct) are against Moroccan law
- Drinking alcohol in view of a mosque is highly disrespectful
- When offered tea, it is good custom to at least stop to take a sip
Languages: Arabic, Berber dialogues, French
Population: 33,066,500 (approx.)
Size: 710,850 (sq km)
Time zone: GMT
Currency: Moroccan dirham ( MAD / Dh)
Visa requirements: Holders of British citizen passports do not require visas for travel to Morocco, providing your stay does not exceed 3 months.
History: Morocco’s history began with the Berbers, who have inhabited the country since the second millennium BC. The country has since seen the influence of a number of European powers, from the Romans to France’s involvement in 1911 when it was formally acknowledged as protector of the greater part of the country. Spain, who had influence in Morocco prior to this, was given a number of isolated locales and there still remain today the Spanish-occupied enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla on Morocco's Mediterranean coast. 1943 brought about the foundation of the Istiqlal Party in a movement towards Moroccan independence. Following tension and violence in areas with European residents during the 1950s, the French protectorate was ended in March 1956 and Morocco regained its independence from France and Spain as the Kingdom of Morocco. The Spanish enclaves still cause tension today.
What to read
Secret Son
by Laila Lalami
Youssef was raised by his mother in the slums of Casablanca and always had dreams about living another life in another world. Upon finding his father, a wealthy businessman who he had be led to believe was dead, Youssef suddenly finds his dreams are within reach, as his father helps him realise them.
A Year in Marrakesh
by Peter Mayne
Peter Mayne rented a room in Marrakech’s old town with the intention of writing a novel. While the novel disappeared, this journal has survived. It is a funny, self-deprecating, beautifully descriptive account of the people of Marrakech and is packed with strong characterisation.
What to watch
Casablanca
Starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, this classic 1942 American drama tells of a man torn between his love of a woman and helping her husband escape from Morocco.
Hideous Kinky
Starring Kate Winslet, Hideous Kinky is the story of two sisters (seven and five years old) travelling with their hippie mother from London to Morocco as she searches for herself and her spirituality. The story provides insight into the Moroccan atmosphere and culture.