The traditional Tunisian tea house — café maure — is a fixture of every town in the south. Mint tea is served sweet and poured from a height to create a froth; pine nuts float on top. The ritual is unhurried. Several tea houses operate around the central square in Ghomrassen, and they are open from early morning until late evening.
Small pastries and cakes are usually available alongside the tea. These are social institutions as much as places of refreshment — local men sit here for hours, talking or playing cards. Visitors are generally welcome. Sitting for an hour over two glasses of tea is one of the more pleasant ways to spend time in a small Tunisian town.