Global Spotlight Series: Exploring the Kingdom of Morocco
"Meknes" by cliffwilliams (via Creative Commons)
The Kingdom of Morocco has a rich history of complex culture and fantastic cuisine. And as you may remember from our last post, Morocco is currently in our virtual limelight as the first featured country in our Crown Prince Global Spotlight Series!
Today we’re going to open a small window from your computer screen into the landscape, history and culture of Morocco. (We realize that one blog post is, indeed, a very small window for an entire country, so we’ve provided some of our favorite links at the bottom if you want to explore further.)
In the words of travelers
Morocco leaves a hint of spice in one’s nostrils. From its jostling crowds, exotic atmosphere and perpetual motion, the minute you set foot in the country, you know you’re in for a different experience. Morocco is a fascinating mix of Islamic, Arab, African and Berber cultures with some pleasant cities, ancient medinas, timeless souks, incredible landscapes, colorful people and excellent beaches thrown in.
A Rich History
While Crown Prince’s ties with Morocco go back more than two decades, Moroccan-American ties go back much further. Morocco was actually the first country to seek diplomatic relations with the U.S. – all the way back in 1777, when the U.S. had just become a country!
Morocco has been inhabited for more than 8,000 years. Another illustration of Morocco’s rich, complex culture: the official language is Arabic, while French is widely used in government and business.
Morocco's culture and traditions are rich, vibrant and diverse (Photo by Dustan Hoffman / Crown Prince)
Land and Landscape
Love the film Casablanca but not sure where the city is actually located? Now you do! Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city, and its capital city is Rabat. Both are located along the nation’s Atlantic coast, where most of its seafood comes from.
Geographically, Morocco also has lush coastal land along the Mediterranean sea, and its inland topography includes both mountains and deserts. Quite the mix for a country not much larger than Texas!
Casablanca at sunset - by Milamber (via Creative Commons)
Food and Culture
Morocco is known for its rich tapestry of culinary flavors. And while seafood makes up a considerable portion of its exports, meats like lamb, chicken, and beef are actually more popular in Moroccan cooking because they tend to be more affordable.
Spices, olives, apricots and a number of other components add complexity and vibrant flavor to dishes that have become known the world over. Our good friend and long-time business partner in Morocco, João, says that favorite local dishes include:
- Tajines, slow cooked tender meat with aromatic vegetables
- Couscous, a steamed grain dish popular with stews, meats, and vegetables
- Mechui, savory, delicious slow-roasted leg of lamb
- Pastillas, sweet and savory pies (typically including chicken, egg, almond, onion, and cinnamon) in a delicate, flaky crust
“These are all prepared with meat, although you can prepare a Tajine and a Pastilla with seafood and it is excellent,” he added.
Moroccan cuisine is known for its bright colors and big flavors (Photo by Dustan Hoffman / Crown Prince)
Fun Further Reading
Moroccan tree-climbing goat - by Catilin (via Creative Commons)
Doesn’t it make you want to hop on a plane right now? In lieu of impulsive travel, you can live vicariously through some of the great websites we’ve found:
- Fantastic photographs of Morocco by travel writer/photographer Andrew Farrand
- Morocco’s Goats That Hang Out in Trees
- Classical and Popular Moroccan Music (with audio samples)
- Rick Steves on travelling Morocco: Beyond Europe: Morocco – Plunge Deep
- Moroccan Cuisine and Gastronomy: Recipes and Cooking Advice
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