The first glass of tea is prepared with green tea and sugar and is strong and bitter — said to be 'bitter as life'. The second glass has fresh mint added and is sweeter — said to be 'gentle as love'. The third glass is the sweetest of all — said to be 'sweet as death', meaning the sweetest thing there is. Turning down one of the three glasses is considered impolite.
The tea is poured from a height — sometimes nearly a metre above the glass — to create a frothy foam on top. This takes practice and skill, and experienced pourers can do it without spilling a drop. The foam is considered the best part of the glass.
The tea ceremony is done everywhere: in homes, at markets, in the desert, even on the floor of a tent. Business is conducted over tea, friendships are made over tea, and disputes are sometimes settled over tea. It is the Mauritanian way of saying: sit down, we have time for each other.
Tea is brewed over a small charcoal brazier. The same tea leaves may be brewed two or three times, getting weaker each time. The mint, sugar, and tea are adjusted for each guest — getting the balance right for each person is itself a kind of gift.