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Moroccan Spiced Hot Chocolate!
Inspired by the spice markets of Marrakech!
A RECIPE FROM ADVENTUROUS ALEX + MOROCCO
YOU WILL NEED
- 2 cups of milk
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp ginger (ground)
- A tiny pinch of cardamom
- A grown-up helper!
LET'S MAKE IT
- Mix cocoa, sugar, cinnamon, ginger & cardamom in a mug.
- Add a splash of cold milk. Stir into a smooth paste.
- Ask a grown-up to warm the rest of the milk on the stove — do not boil!
- Pour the warm milk over your spice paste and stir well.
- Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Sip like a Moroccan! 🇲🇦 🌟
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Did You Know?
The spice markets of Morocco inspired this recipe!
✔ The Spice Markets of Morocco!
- In the souks of Marrakech and Fez there are enormous sacks of spices in every colour you can imagine — golden turmeric, deep red paprika, bright orange saffron, and fragrant cinnamon. Spices have been traded in Morocco for over 1,000 years!
✔ Chocolate + Spice = Magic!
- Cinnamon, ginger and cardamom have been added to hot drinks across North Africa and the Middle East for centuries. The combination of chocolate and warm spices is one of the most comforting flavours in the whole world!
✔ Say it in Arabic!
- Delicious! = Ladhidh! (say it: la-DEETH)
- Thank you = Shukran! (say it: SHOO-kran)
- Hello = Marhaba! (say it: mar-HA-ba)
✔ Note for grown-ups
- Heat milk gently — do not let it boil. For a dairy-free version, use oat milk or almond milk.
Make a Moroccan Star Lantern!
Just like the lanterns in the souks of Marrakech!
AN ACTIVITY FROM ADVENTUROUS ALEX + MOROCCO
YOU WILL NEED
- ◆ Art + Culture
- 1 sheet of black paper or cardstock
- Scissors
- A pencil
- A ruler
- Tape or glue
- A battery tea light (optional!)
- Coloured tissue paper (optional!)
LET'S MAKE IT!
- Fold your black paper in half the long way.
- Draw star shapes, diamonds, and triangles along the folded paper. Keep them simple!
- Cut out your shapes carefully. These are the windows that let the light through!
- Unfold. Glue coloured tissue paper behind the cut-outs for jewel colours!
- Roll into a tube, tape the edges together, and place a tea light inside. Turn off the lights and watch it glow!
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Did You Know?
The famous lanterns of the Moroccan souks!
✔ The Magic of Moroccan Lanterns!
- Walking through the souks of Marrakech at night you will see thousands of lanterns hanging overhead, throwing tiny star-shaped patterns of gold, red, blue, and green light onto every wall and ceiling. Moroccan craftspeople have been making these intricate lanterns by hand for over 1,000 years!
✔ Why all the star shapes?
- The geometric star patterns in Moroccan art are inspired by Islamic art and architecture, which uses repeating geometric shapes to create endlessly beautiful designs. You will see these same star patterns on tiles, carpets, doors, and palace walls all across Morocco!
✔ The Medina!
- The old walled part of a Moroccan city is called the Medina. Inside the Medina the streets are so narrow that two people can barely pass each other, and every turn leads to something more beautiful and surprising than the last!
