History and Culture
History and Culture
At Marrakech Riad we pride ourselves on offering our guests as much support and information as they require to help them to plan their perfect stay in our beautiful Medina accommodation. Marrakech Morocco, a world heritage site
Marrakech is a culturally rich and diverse city, it has fascinating and complex historical influences. The culture, architecture, cuisine and people of this great red city all reflect the influence of traders, inhabitants and rulers who have gone before. We research and write about interesting facets of this rich historical background. We hope that these pieces of information will help you to gain an understandingof Marrakech before and during your stay with us.
Ramadan 2010
The first day of Ramadan is anticipated around the 19th of July 2012. This is an extremely important month in the Moslem calendar when practicing Moslems do not eat or drink during the hours of daylight and offer more prayer than usual. The main tourist attractions in Marrakech remain open during Ramadan with some slight […]
Douiria, Marrakech Riad
A Douiria or ‘little house’ is a separate space within a traditional Riad. The Douiria was traditionally used as a quiet space by the head of the household. In some cases the Douiria is in separate ownership, for example sometimes Riads are split as they are passed down through the generations. The Casablanca Suite at […]
Fresh herbs, Marrakech street market
Fresh herbs are staples in Marrakech. ‘mint tea’ often contains at least six different fresh herbs and generous quantities of these fresh ingredients form the basis of much moroccan cuisine. Street vendors are very often selling the produce of their own smallholdings. They arrive in the city in the mid morning and set up simple […]
Chleuh dancing-boys, Jemaa al fnaa, Marrakech
Around dusk in the north west corner of the Jemaa al fnaa the famous-dacing boys gather and start to perform. The dance and accompanying music will build to a crescendo many hours later. The cultural origins of this tradition lie in the fact that it would be considered innapropriate for women to put on such a performance. Visitors […]
The Marrakech, Tea in Marrakesh
Tea in Marrakech is traditionally a Mint Tea made with green tea, sugar and at least three varieties of fresh mint. Known also as ‘Berber Whisky’ Marrakech mint tea is the Marrakech symbol of hospitality! Complimentary mint tea is served at our Marrakech Riads whenever our guests require. The perfect way to relax after a busy day. […]
Chickens in Marrakech
It is surprisingly common to keep chickens in the Marrakech Medina, they are fed on scraps and kept mainly for eggs. When I first started visiting Marrakech regularly five years ago there were a particularly fine looking group of Andalusian hens that used to scratch around at the top of the well known Derb Semarine […]
Tuurda, a rustic dish served as a light lunch in our Marrakech Riads
Tuurda is a home cooked Marrakechi dish based on dried bread served with pulses onions and other vegetables as available and a tomato based sauce. This delicious dish is a kind of Moroccan bubble and squeek. Guests in our Marrakech Riads can enjoy freshly prepared Tuurda as a light lunch, best enjoyed with a mint tea. Explore […]
Bissara
Bissara is the Marrakech variant of Foul (pronounced ‘fool’) a puree based on fava beans. A wholesome entirely vegetarian and gluten free food Bissara has a wonderful buttery flavour and makes an excellent and substantial breakfast. At Marrakech Riad Papillon and Marrakech Riad Cinnamon Bissara is seasoned in the traditional Marrakechi way with salt, pepper and cumin. We serve it with […]
Baghrir and Mesman breakfast with Marrakech Riad
There are two types of crepes traditionally eaten as breakfast foods in Marrakech, Morocco, these are Baghrir and Mesman. Both are based on wheat flour with olive oil or butter and seasoning, Baghrir is cooked in a pan on one side only where Mesman is repeatedly folded over heat. Both Baghrir and Mesman are freshly […]
Marrakech Riad Dar
The terms Riad (literal meaning garden) and Dar (literal meaning house) are somewhat interchangeable in Marrakech. Strictly speaking a Riad is a garden house built around a courtyard or patio. Some would say that a true riad requires four trees in a formal setting. The broader term Dar includes even the finest Riads but also dwellings that are more modest in scale and […]
Languages
A Red City, a Rainbow of dialects Moroccans are by and large excellent linguists and natural communicators – what they lack in expertise they make up for with enthusiasm. Across Marrakech, and particularly in the souks, the visitor is best advised to put aside inhibitions and join in! Classical and Moroccan Arabic Arabic is the […]
Marrakech, Marrakesh
So good they named it twice! Written in Arabic as مراكش foreigners use the French ‘Marrakech’ and English ‘Marrakesh’ interchangeably. Marrakech sits at a strategic location on the trade route between sub Saharan Africa and the sea route to Europe. The early name was Marra Kouch, land of the Kouchmen a tribe that originated in […]
The Marrakech Tanneries
The famous Marrakech Tanneries are located to the East of the Medina and offer a fascinating opportunity to see an ancient craft alive and well in the twenty first century. The tanners use their skill and judgement to progress animal hides through a succession of processes essentially unchanged from those used by their forbears centuries […]