Tea Ceremonies Around the World: Part IV Senegal

Written By Sophia Senyo

Read in French: HERE.

ATAYA, ATTAYA, ATAAYA

“My Life and Tea” is exploring the different ceremonies that take place around the world and how these ceremonies transform ordinary moments into beautiful moments of pause and human connection. We started in Ethiopia and Eritrea with the Buna Tetu ceremony then we traveled to Samoan communities with their Ava Ceremony then we went to Chile to experience La Once and now we bring you to Senegal.

THE CEREMONY and THOUGHTFULNESS

Ataya means “tea” in Wolof.

Ataya is practiced as a daily custom in some households after lunch or meals amongst friends and family. It also takes place with neighbors and within organizations or for special occasions (welcoming a guest, family you have not seen in an awhile, etc.). This custom is a physical representation of intentional and mindful living: the entire ceremony can last from one to three hours.

Ataya is a ceremony that represents friendship, quality time, connection and togetherness and creates space for nurturing relationships and genuine conversation. There is no rush. The sole purpose is togetherness.

A CEREMONY OF THREE SERVINGS

Ataya consists of three rounds of servings that are a reflection of friendships and relationships. The first cup or round is called Lewel. See Create. The second cup or round is called Naarel. See Create. And, the third cup or final round is called Nettel. See Create.

Each round the tea gets sweeter and sweeter to signify how “friendship grows sweeter over time as people get to know each other. So the first cup is less sweet than the following cups and they grow increasingly sweeter.” See Cellar5.

During the first part, the tea leaves are left to boil for awhile and simmer longer so the brew is stronger. The serving of the first brew is when the taste and blend is both sweet and a bit bitter.

The second part is the serving of the second brew when mint is incorporated into the blend and more sugar is added. See Saveur.

The third and final part of the Ataya ceremony where the third brew is served and the taste is the sweetest because more sugar has been added and the herbs are not as strong as the first round. This is the closing part of the gathering.

INGREDIENTS

The ingredients and process for this gathering consist of:

*Chinese Gunpowder loose tea leaves

*Sugar

*Fresh mint leaves

*The leaves are brewed with water and sugar and the mint leaves are added to the brew for the second round.

*Part of the preparation includes pouring the tea back and forth to mix it very well and build up foam.

*The tea is served in small tea glasses called a “kas”.

*The leaves are re-used between rounds thus allowing each round to have its own taste.

*The people to gather and enjoy each other

WHAT IS LOVING ABOUT THIS:

This ceremony creates a moment every day to pause and appreciate your family, friends and community. So whether this gathering happens on a Monday after lunch or a special occasion, either way there is a shared moment of relaxation and appreciation and togetherness amongst the participants who are there for a shared purpose or no specific reason except to just be together.

There is a sense of serenity with this ceremony, this sacred time of intentional pause and just being together for the sole purpose of togetherness.

This ceremony is truly soul nourishing and perhaps rejuvenates the soul every time when done with your true loved ones. Perhaps this is a ceremony you can incorporate into your week with your loved ones. Have you participated in Ataya before? What did/does the experience mean to you? Comment below.

Sources:

Sophia Senyo
Previous

Les cérémonies du thé dans le monde: Sénégal
Next

CÉRÉMONIE DU THÉ DU CHILI: LA ONCE