Diyafa: everything you need to welcome guests

The tea table, Moroccan style

In Morocco, welcoming guests often starts with a tray of mint tea and a few small bowls of fakya. There's no written rule, but a successful table usually brings together three families: nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios or walnuts); dried fruit for color and sweetness; and dates. The bowls fill and empty to the rhythm of the conversation, and everyone picks what they like: that's the whole spirit of diyafa, Moroccan hospitality. Our selection brings together the classics of each family, so you can set your table without searching.

Filling your bowls

Start with nuts: Roasted almonds or Forna almonds from Meknes, Roasted salted cashews and Roasted salted pistachios. Add a touch of color with Unsweetened dried apricots, Dried mango or Dried kiwi, then dates: Jumbo Medjool dates for impact, Ajwa dates for tradition. A bowl of Cinnamon almonds brings the sweet note. Think too of guests who avoid salt, with Roasted unsalted cashews or Roasted unsalted shelled pistachios. Four to six bowls are enough for a beautiful table; beyond that, a large platter is more practical.

How much to plan

Quantities depend on the occasion. As a rough guide, for tea served with other sweets, allow 40 to 60 g of nuts and dried fruit per person, plus one or two dates; for an evening where fakya takes center stage, 80 to 120 g. For ten guests at teatime, that means, for example, 300 g of nuts, 150 g of dried fruit and about fifteen dates. These are common benchmarks, not rules: every household has its habits, and a little too much is better than not enough, since leftovers keep.

Hosting without stress

Order ahead and mention, on the order or on WhatsApp, the time your guests arrive: we'll agree on a delivery time together. Fill the bowls at the last minute to keep everything crunchy, and leave the rest in tightly closed bags. Set out an empty bowl for pistachio shells, and a few napkins. Whatever isn't served keeps for the next visit, in airtight jars, somewhere cool and away from light. And if a guest is allergic to tree nuts, peanuts or sesame, let us know before you order: we'll help you choose.

Frequently asked questions