Tea is the most consumed beverage in the world after water. In Senegal, this small cup filled with green tea topped with white foam is so popular that it is difficult to imagine that there was a time when this drink was not consumed in this country. Bès Bi tells us how he crossed the Senegalese borders.
In 1954, the Crimean War hampered British exports and forced them to find new markets. It was at this moment that they remembered Morocco which had appreciated their diplomatic gift and which had the advantage of having ports that could easily accommodate merchant ships. Tea was so rare in the Cherifian Kingdom that it was a luxury only accessible to high society. With the new massive influx of tea, access to the product is democratizing to the point of reaching neighboring Mauritania. At the same time, this country welcomed a large number of Senegalese who came to learn the Koran and who brought tea back to the country. This is how tea arrived in Senegal. Moreover, the word “attaya” comes from “tay” used in the Maghreb to designate this product. According to the OECD, in 2022, Senegal imported tea worth more than 25 billion FCFA, mainly from China. Senegal occupies 34th place in the world ranking of countries that import this product the most. In Africa, Kenya is the only major tea producer. The production monopoly is largely dominated by East Asian countries (China, India, Sri Lanka, etc.).
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