Marrakech FNA Market IMG_2161.JPG By: FrenchSelfCatering.com on Flickr via Creative Commons

Moroccan cuisine is renowned for its exciting range of rich flavours and textures. From sweet almond amlou, to hearty stews and casseroles; a holiday to Marrakech gives visitors the chance to sample an extraordinary range of dishes.

Morocco benefits from a great location, placed at a crossroads between Europe, Asia, the Arabic lands and the continent of Africa. As a result, it has enjoyed a rich stream of cultural influx over the centuries. In addition to this, Morocco’s history of imperial dynasties has seen fine cuisine exalted to something of an art form.

Marrakech By: James Temple on Flickr via Creative Commons

One of the most exciting things to do in Marrakech is to pay a visit to the bustling, chaotic Jemaa el Fna Market. Here visitors can explore through winding, labyrinthine markets, where fortune-tellers and healers ply their trade alongside cotton and silk traders, spice merchants and food stalls. You can enjoy varied street performers, as well as musicians and story tellers.

During the day, Jemaa el Fna Market is a great place to shop for bargains and souvenirs. Later in the evening however, the square fills up with food stalls. These begin to arrive as the sun sets, travelling from all around the city to set up shop at Jemaa el Fna.

The area surrounding Marrakech produces a large amount of rich produce, including vegetables, herbs, spices and soft fruits. Moroccan cuisine incorporates a wide range of exciting, and often unusual flavours as a result. Garlic, chillies, ginger and olives feature in many dishes, and most spice merchants offer their own trademark blends. These secret recipes are known as ‘ras el hanout’ (meaning ‘head of shop’), and can contain as many as thirty different spices.

Marrakech By frestivo on Flickr via Creative Commons

The food on offer at Jemaa el Fna Market ranges from the familiar, to some very exotic flavours. Deep fried eels are a popular snack, while roasted snails are considered a delicacy. Other popular dishes incorporate a wide range of unusual and exciting flavours; for example, try a whole chicken, slow roasted with olives, almonds and apricots for a succulent and sweet taste. Tagines are another common sight, earthenware pots used to cook spicy Moroccan stews. Grilled potato brochettes and spicy sausages represent the influences of Mediterranean cuisine, while warm chickpea salads, lentil soup and couscous infused with rose water offer a more uniquely Moroccan flavour.

Market outside Marrakech By: Liv Unni Sødem on Flickr via Creative Commons

Drinks available at Jemaa el Fna Market range from freshly squeezed orange juice, to fine wines and local beers. While many Moroccan Muslims don’t drink alcohol themselves, the influx of western trade has led local brewers to refine the art of making beer, and visitors to Marrakech can enjoy a varied range of beers, lagers and crisp pilsners.

Holidays in Marrakech offer visitors a dazzling insight into a fascinating, history-laden city. From the magnificent mosques to the downtown regions with their modern casinos, bars and hotels, you’ll be sure to find something that will appeal to  everyone. However, at Jemaa el Fna Market you’ll feel you’ve stepped into another world. The exciting food and drinks on offer will take your taste buds on a magical journey, that you’ll remember for a long time to come.

Meet the Author: Richard Morten Richard Morten is a freelance writer and musician based in Bristol. He regularly contributes to a number of local newspapers, online journals and reference sites, as well as taking editorial roles on two regular publications. Richard’s work reflects strong interests in travel, culture, music and philosophy.

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Image property of EABL.com

Type: Beer –Lager
Name: Tusker – Finest Quality Lager
Price: $1.99
Made: Nairobi-Kenya
Alc/Vol: 4.2%

“Tusker Lager has been brewed in East Africa since 1922. Named after the elephant that killed George Hurst, one of the brewery’s founders, Tusker claims that special heritage of being one of the first beers in East Africa. Over the years, this unique lager has become a part of East Africa’s rich tradition.

Tusker is brewed with high quality malt, made from equatorial barley grown at the base of Mt. Kenya, choicest hops and water that springs from the renowned Aberdare mountain ranges. Tusker’s famous crisp, refreshing taste and finest quality has continuously earned Gold Meals in the prestigious International Monde Selection Awards.”

The nose doesn’t give away much of anything at all. The beer pours a light straw color with a quick fading head. The taste is light and refreshing, with a hint of sweetness to it, almost a bit of crispness to it – Honey? Lemon? To be frank, it isn’t amazing in that it leaves a lasting impression but it does give you a fresh light taste.

There really is no aftertaste but the after…effect leaves a dry finish. Which is surprising to how light the initial taste is. I don’t know if I would go out of my way to purchase these as an import but if I was there in Kenya I could easily see myself enjoying this beer on a hot summer day. It is also something that I could see myself drinking all day, since there isn’t much to it. It would be hard to get tired of, but then again it is nothing that I could call out if you switched it out with any other nameless beers.

I give this beer a 2.5 out of 5 bananas. My hope is to try this brew next to the source and see if that atmosphere improves the taste to make it something a little more memorable.

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