{"site":"Bab Lblad","language":"en","checked":"2026-10-08","section":"Moroccan home","pages":[{"id":"salon","url":"https://bablblad.com/en/dar_salon.html","t":"The Moroccan salon","s":"Benches along the walls, firm mattresses, a low table in the middle: the sizes, the fabrics and how to fit one in a flat abroad.","intro":"The Moroccan salon is built to receive: everyone sits facing each other, and at night the benches become beds for guests. It works in a small flat as well as in a large house, if the sizes are right.","key":["A bench (sedari) is a wooden base with a firm mattress on top and cushions against the wall.","Usual sizes: 70 cm deep for a traditional salon, 60 cm for a narrower modern one, with the seat 40 to 45 cm from the floor.","Count 60 cm of bench for each seated guest.","Most workshops build every salon to the room, so made to measure costs little more than ready-made."],"sections":[{"h":"The parts and their names","rows":[["Sedari","The wooden base, plain or carved, often with storage inside. Usually 25 to 30 cm high."],["Mattress (ponj)","Firm foam, 15 to 20 cm thick, cut to the length of each bench. Firm foam keeps its shape; soft foam sags within two years."],["Back cushions","Large firm cushions against the wall, about 45 to 50 cm high. Count one for every 70 cm or so."],["Bolsters and small cushions (khdadi)","Armrests at the ends of each bench, and loose cushions for comfort and colour."],["Low table (mida)","Round or square, 35 to 45 cm high, light enough to move when the benches become beds."],["Tlamet","The fitted covers of the mattresses and cushions. A second set lets you change the room in ten minutes."]]},{"h":"Measure the room","steps":["Measure each wall you will use, from corner to corner, at seat height. Note doors, windows, radiators and sockets.","Choose the shape: one wall, two walls in an L, or three walls in a U. Leave at least 80 cm free in front of a door.","In a corner, only one bench runs to the wall. The other stops one bench depth short.","Keep 40 to 50 cm between the bench and the edge of the table, so people can sit down and get out.","Give the workshop your wall lengths and the position of the corners. A good one sends a drawing before cutting."]},{"h":"Fabrics","list":["Brocade and woven jacquard, the classic look for celebrations: rich, but cool to sit on, and water marks it.","Velvet (mobra): warm and comfortable, but it shows every crumb. Choose a short, dense pile.","Cotton and linen blends: easy for daily life, washable covers, calmer colours.","Stain-resistant or outdoor fabric: worth it with young children.","Ask for zips on the covers of mattresses and cushions. Without zips, cleaning means calling the upholsterer.","Fabric is usually 140 cm wide. The workshop tells you how many metres are needed; buy 10% more for later repairs, because the same batch is rarely found again."]},{"h":"In a flat abroad","list":["Check the lift and the staircase before ordering one long bench. Bases made in sections of 1 to 2 m go up any stairs and can be rearranged when you move.","A depth of 60 cm instead of 70 saves 20 cm of floor in a room with benches on both sides.","Radiators: leave 10 cm of air in front of them, or ask for a base with an open back.","Storage inside the base takes the blankets and the second set of covers.","A bench 70 cm deep and 190 cm long sleeps an adult.","One wall of sedari with a sofa opposite works well when the room is also the family's television room."]},{"h":"Buying in Morocco or where you live","p":"In Morocco, salon workshops are in every city; Salé, Fès, Meknès, Casablanca and Tétouan are known for them. Abroad, Moroccan salon makers work in most cities with a large community and build to the same sizes.","list":["Compare the same things: the wood of the base, the density of the foam, the fabric per metre, zips, delivery and fitting.","Ask for the density of the foam. For a seat used every day, 30 kg per cubic metre or more keeps its shape.","Shipping a salon from Morocco: the base travels flat or in sections. Foam is bulky and often cheaper to buy locally.","Keep the receipt and a list of the pieces for customs."]}],"mistakes":["Ordering before measuring the door, the stairs and the lift.","Benches too deep for a narrow room: two rows of 70 cm leave too little floor in a room under 3 m wide.","Soft foam, because it feels good in the shop.","A table too large or too heavy to move.","A single set of covers in a pale colour, with children in the house."]},{"id":"rugs","url":"https://bablblad.com/en/dar_rugs.html","t":"Moroccan rugs","s":"Beni Ourain, Azilal, Boucherouite, kilim: how to recognise them, check they are real, choose the size and keep them for thirty years.","intro":"A hand-knotted wool rug from the Atlas takes weeks to make and outlives most furniture. Names are used loosely in shops, so it helps to know what you are looking at.","key":["Turn the rug over: on a hand-knotted rug you see every knot, slightly irregular, and the pattern is as clear as on the front.","The fringe of a real rug is the end of its own threads. A fringe sewn on afterwards is a warning.","New wool rugs shed for a few months. That is normal and it stops.","Vacuum without the rotating brush, turn the rug twice a year, and never put it in a washing machine."],"sections":[{"h":"The main families","rows":[["Beni Ourain","Middle Atlas. Thick cream wool with dark brown or black diamonds and lines. A deep, soft pile made for cold winters."],["Azilal","High Atlas. Cream ground with coloured, free-hand motifs. Thinner than a Beni Ourain; every one is different."],["Boujad","From the plains around Boujad. Reds, pinks and oranges that fade softly with age."],["Beni Mguild","Middle Atlas. Dense pile in deep reds, purples and blues; heavy and warm."],["Mrirt","From the Khénifra area. Very dense, silky wool; among the most expensive new rugs."],["Taznakht","South of the High Atlas. Saffron yellow, red and black; flat weave, embroidery and pile are often mixed in one piece."],["Zanafi","Black and white flat weave with fine stripes and diamonds. Light, good for halls and kitchens."],["Kilim (hanbel)","Flat woven, with no pile. Light, reversible, easy to shake out; a good first rug and a good wall hanging."],["Boucherouite","Made at home from strips of recycled cloth. Bright and inexpensive; it is not wool."],["Rabat carpet","A city carpet, finely knotted, with a red field, a central medallion and borders: the formal carpet of old houses."]]},{"h":"Checking a rug before you pay","steps":["Look at the back. Hand knots are uneven. A machine-made back is perfectly regular, often with a stiff mesh or a glued cloth.","Look at where the fringe starts: it should come out of the rug itself.","Smell and touch. Wool smells faintly of sheep and feels slightly oily. Acrylic is shiny, light and squeaks under the fingers.","Ask to burn one loose fibre. Wool smells of burnt hair and goes out by itself; synthetic fibre melts into a hard bead.","Measure it yourself. Handmade rugs are never exactly rectangular; a difference of 3 to 5 cm from one end to the other is usual.","Rub a damp white cloth on a dark area. Colour on the cloth means the dye will run.","Ask where it was woven and whether it is new or old. An honest seller answers without hesitation."]},{"h":"Which size","rows":[["With a sofa and armchairs","Large enough for the front legs of every seat to rest on it: usually 200 x 300 cm in an ordinary living room."],["In a Moroccan salon","Leave 20 to 30 cm of floor visible between the rug and the benches."],["Under a dining table","The size of the table plus 60 cm on each side, so chairs stay on the rug when pulled out."],["Bedroom","One large rug under the lower two thirds of the bed, or a runner of 80 x 200 cm on each side."],["Hall","A runner that leaves 10 to 15 cm of floor on each side."]]},{"h":"Daily care","list":["Vacuum once a week with suction only. A rotating brush pulls the wool out.","Turn the rug half a turn every six months, so wear and sunlight even out.","Put an anti-slip underlay beneath: it protects the knots and prevents falls.","Spills: blot at once with a white cloth, from the edge towards the centre. Do not rub.","Then use cold water with a little mild soap or white vinegar, blot again and dry flat.","Air the rug outside on a dry day, in the shade. Strong sun fades natural dyes.","A full wash every two or three years: by a rug cleaner, or outside in summer with cold water, mild soap and a soft brush in the direction of the pile, then a long rinse and several days drying flat."]},{"h":"Moths and storage","list":["Moths lay their eggs in dark, undisturbed wool: under beds and furniture. Vacuum there too, and the back of the rug twice a year.","Before storing a rug, have it cleaned. Moths go for dirt and food stains first.","Roll it, never fold it, with the pile inside, and wrap it in a cotton sheet. Plastic traps damp.","Add cedar wood or lavender and check every few months.","A small rug with moths can be sealed in a bag and left in a freezer for at least three days. Then vacuum it well."]}],"mistakes":["Buying by the name only. A rug in the Beni Ourain style is not a Beni Ourain.","A rug too small for the room: it makes the room look smaller.","Steam cleaners, washing machines and bleach.","Storing a rug in plastic in a cellar.","Trusting a certificate of authenticity printed by the shop. Look at the back of the rug instead."]},{"id":"tiles","url":"https://bablblad.com/en/dar_tiles.html","t":"Zellige, bejmat and cement tiles","s":"What each one is, where it can go, how it is laid and how to keep it for decades.","intro":"Moroccan tiles are made by hand and are never perfectly flat or identical. That is their charm, and the reason they are laid and cleaned differently from factory tiles.","key":["Zellige is glazed terracotta cut by hand, made mostly in Fès. Small differences in colour and surface are normal.","Bejmat is a thicker, rectangular terracotta tile, often used on floors.","Cement tiles are not fired: they are porous and must be sealed before use.","Clean all three with neutral soap or Moroccan black soap. No acid, no bleach, no vinegar."],"sections":[{"h":"Three materials","rows":[["Zellige","Glazed terracotta, about 10 x 10 cm and 1 cm thick, with edges cut on a slant. Shiny and uneven, with tiny chips and fine cracks in the glaze. For walls, splashbacks, showers, fountains and table tops."],["Bejmat","Terracotta bricks of about 5 x 15 cm and 2 cm thick, glazed or natural. For floors, steps and terraces in mild climates, laid in herringbone or in straight rows."],["Cement tiles","Pressed cement with a coloured pattern layer, usually 20 x 20 cm and about 1.6 cm thick. Matt and soft underfoot. For floors and walls indoors."]]},{"h":"Where they work, and where they do not","list":["Zellige on a kitchen splashback or a bathroom wall: yes. The wall behind a shower must be waterproofed first; the tiles themselves do not make it waterproof.","Zellige on a floor: only the thicker floor quality, and expect it to mark in a busy hall.","Outdoors where it freezes: avoid terracotta. Water enters the clay and frost breaks it. Ask for frost-resistant tiles.","Cement tiles in a shower or behind a hob: possible if they are sealed well and sealed again regularly, but they stain more easily than glazed tiles.","Underfloor heating: all three work. The bed must dry slowly before the heating is turned on."]},{"h":"Ordering","list":["Order 10 to 15% more than the surface. Hand-cut tiles break in transport and in cutting, and a later batch will not match.","Ask for a photo of your batch laid out in daylight. Colours vary from one firing to the next.","Zellige is sold loose by the square metre, or as panels already assembled face down. Panels are faster to lay.","Zellige weighs about 20 kg per square metre. Check the cost of transport before the price of the tile."]},{"h":"Laying","steps":["Open all the boxes and mix the tiles before starting, so the shades are spread over the whole surface.","If the maker advises it, soak terracotta tiles in clean water for a few minutes so they do not drink the adhesive.","Zellige is laid edge to edge, with almost no joint. Do not use spacers as for factory tiles.","Accept the unevenness. Trying to level every tile removes what makes zellige beautiful.","Grout with a fine grout in a colour close to the tile, pushed into the gaps, and wipe quickly: grout sticks in the chips of the glaze.","Cement tiles: seal once before grouting and once after. Grout pigment stains unsealed cement for good.","Find a tiler who has laid them before, or give him the maker's instructions. Most problems come from laying them like ordinary tiles."]},{"h":"Cleaning and care","list":["Every week: warm water with a little neutral soap or black soap.","Never: acid descalers, vinegar, bleach or abrasive powder. They dull the glaze and eat into cement.","Limescale on zellige in a shower: wipe the wall dry after use. It is easier than removing scale.","Cement tiles: seal or wax them again once a year in busy rooms. A drop of water should stay on the surface as a bead.","A chipped tile can be cut out and replaced. Keep the spare tiles from your order."]}],"mistakes":["Ordering the exact surface, with no spare.","Wide joints and spacers on zellige.","Grouting cement tiles before sealing them.","Vinegar and anti-limescale sprays.","Terracotta outdoors in a climate with frost."]},{"id":"walls","url":"https://bablblad.com/en/dar_walls.html","t":"Tadelakt and walls","s":"The polished lime plaster of Marrakech, what it can and cannot do, and simpler ways to get the same warmth.","intro":"Tadelakt is a lime plaster from the Marrakech region, pressed and polished with a stone, then treated with black soap. It gives soft walls without joints and with a gentle shine, in bathrooms, hammams and living rooms.","key":["Tadelakt repels water but is not waterproof like a tile. It suits bathrooms if a specialist does it and it is looked after.","It is cleaned with diluted black soap, never with acid or abrasive products.","Fine hairline cracks are part of the material.","Lime wash and lime-based paints give a similar soft, cloudy wall for much less."],"sections":[{"h":"What it is","p":"Lime from the Marrakech plateau is mixed with water and pigment, applied in thin coats, tightened with a trowel, then polished with a hard, smooth stone. Black olive soap is worked in at the end: it reacts with the lime and closes the surface. The work is slow and is done by a craftsman, the maâlem."},{"h":"Where to use it","list":["Bathroom walls, around a basin, a bath surround: yes.","Inside a shower used every day: possible, but it needs perfect work, good ventilation and regular care with soap. Many people put zellige in the shower and tadelakt on the other walls.","Living room, bedroom, hall, a fireplace surround, niches and shelves built into the wall: ideal.","Kitchen worktops: not advised. Lemon, vinegar and knives mark it.","It needs a sound, rigid base. On plasterboard it needs a suitable primer and reinforcement: ask the craftsman."]},{"h":"Looking after tadelakt","list":["Wipe splashes, and do not let water stand in corners or on ledges.","Clean with a soft sponge and black soap diluted in warm water. Rinse and dry.","Once or twice a year, wash the surface with black soap, leave it a few minutes and polish with a soft cloth. This renews the protection.","No bleach, no limescale remover, no scouring pad, no steam cleaner.","Shampoo and hair dye stain: rinse them off at once.","A craftsman can polish a dull or stained patch again. Small repairs are possible, but the colour rarely matches exactly."]},{"h":"Simpler ways to get the look","rows":[["Lime wash","Lime and pigment brushed on in several thin coats. Matt, cloudy, and it lets the wall breathe. Inexpensive, and you can do it yourself on mineral walls."],["Lime-based paint","Ready mixed and easier to apply than lime wash, on most primed walls."],["Polished plaster or microcement","Without joints, and tougher in wet rooms. A different material with a similar smooth look."],["Tadelakt-effect paint","A decorative paint. It gives the colour and some movement, not the depth or the resistance to water."]]},{"h":"Colours that work","p":"Traditional tadelakt colours come from earth pigments: Marrakech ochre and pink, terracotta, sand, grey, deep red. One strong wall, in a niche or behind a bench, is often enough; keep the others pale."}],"mistakes":["Expecting tadelakt in a shower to need no care.","Cleaning it like tiles, with anti-limescale spray.","Hiring a general plasterer who has never done it.","Rushing the work: each coat needs its drying time."]},{"id":"colours","url":"https://bablblad.com/en/dar_colours.html","t":"Colours of Morocco","s":"Six palettes taken from Moroccan cities and gardens, with their colour codes, and how to use them without turning the room into a postcard.","intro":"Each Moroccan city has its colours: the ochre of Marrakech, the blue of Chefchaouen, the green roofs of Fès, the white and blue of Essaouira. One palette, used with restraint, gives a room a Moroccan feeling without a single ornament.","key":["Use three colours: one for about 60% of the room (the walls), one for 30% (large textiles and furniture), one for 10% (cushions, a door, a lamp).","Strong colours go where the eye should go: a niche, a door, the wall behind the salon.","Screen colours are approximate. Take the code to a paint shop and test a sample on the wall, by day and in the evening."],"sections":[{"h":"Six palettes","p":"Each palette has five colours. The first is for the walls, the last ones are accents."},{"h":"Putting colour in a room","list":["Start from what cannot change: the floor, a sofa, a rug. Choose the palette that already contains its colour.","Paint low: a band of colour up to 100 or 120 cm with white above recalls zellige panelling and makes ceilings look higher.","Paint the inside of a niche, the sides of a window or a set of shelves in the strong colour.","Doors and radiators in the accent colour cost one small tin of paint.","Repeat each colour at least three times in the room, in different materials.","Brass, copper and dark wood count as colours. Many warm metals with ochre walls become heavy: add white."]},{"h":"Light changes everything","list":["Rooms facing north in northern Europe or Canada make blues cold and greys sad. Choose the warm palettes there.","Rooms facing south take blue and white well.","Evening light from warm bulbs deepens ochre and terracotta.","Always test: paint a large card and move it around the room for two days."]}],"mistakes":["Every colour at full strength on every wall.","Choosing from a phone screen.","A cold, bluish white next to warm colours: choose an off-white.","Forgetting the ceiling: pure white above ochre walls looks cut off. Add a little of the wall colour to the ceiling paint."]},{"id":"light","url":"https://bablblad.com/en/dar_light.html","t":"Lanterns and light","s":"Pierced brass, coloured glass and candles: where to hang them, which bulbs to use, and how to make a lamp bought in Morocco safe at home.","intro":"Moroccan light is low, warm and broken into patterns. A pierced lantern throws stars on the walls, and several small lights replace one bright ceiling lamp.","key":["Use warm white bulbs, 2,200 to 2,700 K, and a dimmer where you can.","Three or more low lights in a room, not one ceiling light.","A lamp bought in Morocco is wired for 220 volts and European sockets. Have it checked, and have it rewired in Canada or the United States.","Clear bulbs give sharp patterns on the walls; frosted bulbs give a soft light and no pattern."],"sections":[{"h":"The lamps","rows":[["Pierced brass or copper lantern","Hanging, standing or as a wall light. The pattern of holes decides the pattern on the walls: small holes give stars, larger cut-outs give lace."],["Coloured glass lantern","An iron frame with panes of coloured glass. Good with a candle or a small bulb, in corners, on balconies and stairs."],["Henna lamp","Goatskin stretched on an iron frame and painted with henna patterns. A soft amber light; keep it away from damp."],["Candle lanterns","For the table, the floor, a window ledge. Group them in threes of different heights."],["Ceiling dome or chandelier","Large pierced pieces for high ceilings and stairwells. Check the weight and the fixing in the ceiling."]]},{"h":"Where and how high","list":["Above a dining table: the bottom of the lantern 75 to 85 cm above the table.","In a passage: at least 200 cm of free height under the lantern.","In the salon: a floor lantern or a low hanging one in a corner beside the bench, not in the middle of the room.","A pair of wall lights at 160 to 170 cm, on either side of a mirror or a niche.","A heavy lantern needs a hook fixed into a joist or a proper ceiling anchor, not the plastic plug of the old ceiling light."]},{"h":"Bulbs","list":["Colour temperature: 2,700 K for living rooms, 2,200 K for the look of a candle. Above 3,000 K, brass turns grey.","Clear filament LED bulbs for a pattern on the walls.","Low power is enough: 4 to 6 watts of LED in a pierced lantern.","Check the socket. Moroccan and European lamps take E27 or E14 screw bulbs; North American sockets are E26 and E12."]},{"h":"Making a lamp from Morocco safe","steps":["Look inside. The cable should be double insulated, or the metal body should be connected to earth. Many souk lamps have a simple two-wire cable on a metal body.","In Europe and the Gulf (220 to 240 volts): ask an electrician to check the socket and the cable and to earth the lamp. It is a small job.","In Canada and the United States (120 volts): have the lamp rewired with a local socket, cable and plug before using it.","In a bathroom or outdoors, use only lamps rated for damp places. Most decorative lanterns are not.","Keep pierced metal away from curtains. Bulbs stay cool, candles do not."]},{"h":"Candles","list":["Never leave a candle burning in an empty room or while you sleep.","Use a glass holder inside a metal lantern: the metal gets hot.","LED candles with a warm flicker are safe on stairs, in children's rooms and on shelves."]}],"mistakes":["One strong white bulb in a pierced lantern: glare, and no atmosphere.","Hanging a lantern of 10 kg on a hook made for 2 kg.","Using a 220 volt lamp in North America with only a plug adapter.","Cold white bulbs."]},{"id":"care","url":"https://bablblad.com/en/dar_care.html","t":"Caring for brass, wood, leather and pottery","s":"Trays and teapots, thuya boxes, leather poufs, painted plates: how to clean them, what damages them, and how to get rid of the smell of a new pouf.","intro":"Moroccan crafts are made from natural materials that react to water, sun and heating. A few habits keep them looking good for a lifetime.","key":["Nothing on this page goes in a dishwasher.","Dry metal straight after washing. Water marks are what dull brass and silver-coloured trays.","Keep wood and leather away from radiators and direct sun.","Painted, decorative pottery is for serving and display, not for cooking."],"sections":[{"h":"Brass and copper","list":["Regular care: warm soapy water, a soft cloth, and dry at once.","To bring back the shine: rub with half a lemon dipped in fine salt, or with a paste of vinegar, salt and flour. Leave it ten minutes, rinse, dry and buff.","Lacquered brass, which stays shiny and never darkens: soapy water only. Polish and lemon remove the lacquer.","The dark tone of old brass is a patina, and many people prefer it. Decide before you polish: it takes years to come back.","Green spots on copper: lemon and salt, then rinse well.","Copper pans must be lined with tin inside to be used for food. Have them tinned again when the copper shows through."]},{"h":"Teapots and trays","list":["Most Moroccan teapots and trays are nickel silver (maillechort) or plated brass, not solid silver.","Wash by hand, dry at once, and polish now and then with a silver cloth.","Tea stains inside a teapot: fill it with hot water and a spoon of bicarbonate of soda, leave it one hour and rinse. Never scour the inside.","A teapot that goes on the flame must be made for it. Decorative teapots have soldered joints that melt: ask when you buy.","Store teapots with the lid open, so the inside dries."]},{"h":"Thuya, cedar and painted wood","list":["Thuya from Essaouira is a burl wood with a strong pattern and a warm smell. It cracks if it dries out: no radiator, no sunny window sill.","Dust with a dry cloth. Twice a year, rub in a little beeswax polish or a few drops of oil, and buff.","A white ring left by a hot glass often goes with a little oil and patience.","Cedar keeps its smell for years and keeps moths away. A light sanding inside a cedar chest revives it.","Painted wood (zouak) on doors, tables and shelves: dust only. Water lifts the paint."]},{"h":"Leather poufs and bags","list":["Poufs are sold empty so that they travel flat. Fill them with old clothes, towels or cushion filling, pressed in firmly; a good pouf takes more than you expect.","The smell of a new pouf comes from traditional tanning. Before filling it, leave it open in fresh air for several days, out of the sun, with bicarbonate of soda or coffee grounds inside.","Dyed leather can leave colour on a pale carpet or sofa, especially when damp. Test with a white cloth, and keep dark poufs off pale rugs at first.","Clean with a barely damp cloth. Feed the leather twice a year with a colourless leather cream.","Sun fades and dries leather. Rain marks it: let it dry slowly, away from heat."]},{"h":"Pottery and ceramics","list":["Blue and white from Fès, the colours of Safi, the green of Tamegroute: wash by hand, and no microwave if there is metallic paint.","The glazes of decorative pieces are not always made for food. Use them for bread, fruit and dry pastries, or as decoration.","For cooking, and for acidic food such as tomato, lemon and vinegar, use only pieces sold as safe for food and free of lead.","Unglazed terracotta absorbs: no perfumed soap, and dry it fully before putting it away.","A serving dish with a chipped glaze: keep it for decoration."]}],"mistakes":["The dishwasher, for any of it.","Polishing lacquered brass.","A thuya box on a shelf above a radiator.","Filling a pouf the day it arrives, smell included.","Cooking in a painted souvenir tagine."]},{"id":"hosting","url":"https://bablblad.com/en/dar_hosting.html","t":"Hosting the Moroccan way","s":"The tea tray, the table for guests, Ramadan evenings and Eid morning: what to keep in the house and how to set it out.","intro":"A Moroccan home is judged by how it receives. None of it needs to be expensive: a tray that is ready, something sweet in the cupboard, and room for one more person.","key":["Keep a tea tray ready: teapot, glasses, sugar, tea, and mint in the fridge or on the balcony.","Fill tea glasses two thirds, so guests can hold them by the rim.","For a meal, one large dish in the middle and bread for everyone is the tradition, and it means less washing up.","Before guests arrive: air the room, burn a little incense, and put orange blossom water by the door."],"sections":[{"h":"The tea tray","rows":[["Tray (siniya)","Round, flat or on small feet. 35 to 45 cm across is enough for a teapot and six glasses."],["Teapot (berrad)","One made to go on the flame. A teapot of about 1 litre serves six glasses."],["Glasses (kissan)","Small, about 12 cl. Plain for every day, decorated for guests. Buy twelve: they break."],["Three boxes","For tea, sugar and mint: the old sets have all three. Two jars do the job."],["Tea","Chinese gunpowder green tea, kept in a closed tin."],["Sugar","A sugar loaf broken into pieces, or lumps. Make the tea less sweet and offer sugar on the side."]]},{"h":"Receiving guests","steps":["Welcome guests at the door and seat them in the best places, away from the door.","Offer water first, then tea with something sweet or salted: pastries, dates, nuts, or simply good bread, olive oil and honey.","Pour the first glass back into the pot once or twice to mix the tea, then serve from high up to make a light foam.","Refill a glass before it is empty. Three glasses is the custom; no one counts.","For a meal, bring a basin and a jug of water, or show the way to wash hands, before and after.","When guests leave, a few pastries wrapped to take home is a habit worth keeping."]},{"h":"The table","list":["The low round table and the benches of the salon, or your dining table: both are right.","One large dish in the centre; each person eats from the part in front of them. Put small salads around it.","Bread is cut and shared around the table before the dish arrives.","A tablecloth that can be washed hot, and a plastic sheet under it on the low table, save the rug.","Small plates and forks for those who prefer them, without comment.","Fruit in season ends the meal. Tea comes after, in the salon."]},{"h":"Ramadan evenings","list":["Set the table before sunset: dates, water, milk, harira, boiled eggs with cumin, chebakia, sellou, small breads and pancakes.","Prepare ahead and freeze: briouates, msemen, the base of the harira. The month is long.","Keep the prayer times of your city at hand: they are on the Today page.","Lanterns, a string of lights on the balcony and a calendar for the children make the month visible in a country where the street does not change.","Invite neighbours and colleagues at least once. An evening at your table explains Ramadan better than any speech."]},{"h":"Eid and family days","list":["Eid morning: best clothes, pastries on the table before the prayer, msemen or baghrir after.","Call the family in Morocco early: lines and apps are busy by late morning there.","Keep small envelopes or coins ready for the children.","For a birth, a return from pilgrimage or an engagement: tea, milk with dates and a tray of pastries are the base. Everything else is extra."]}],"mistakes":["Glasses filled to the top: no one can lift them.","Keeping the best tray for great occasions. Use it.","A table so decorated that there is no room for the dish.","So much food that you have no time to sit with your guests."]},{"id":"kitchenware","url":"https://bablblad.com/en/dar_kitchenware.html","t":"Tagine, couscoussier and kitchen tools","s":"Which tagine to buy, how to season it so it does not crack, the couscoussier, and the few tools that change the cooking.","intro":"Moroccan cooking needs little equipment, but each piece has its rules. Most cracked tagines were either never seasoned or put on a flame that was too high.","key":["There are cooking tagines and serving tagines. The painted, glazed ones in souvenir shops are for serving only.","Season a new clay tagine before its first use, and always cook on low heat with a heat diffuser.","Never put a hot tagine on a cold surface, or cold water into a hot tagine.","A couscoussier steams the grain three times over the stew. No other pot gives the same couscous."],"sections":[{"h":"Choosing a tagine","rows":[["Unglazed clay","The traditional cooking tagine. It gives the most flavour, needs seasoning and gentle heat, and keeps the taste of what was cooked in it."],["Plain glazed clay","Easier to clean; it still needs gentle heat. Check that it is sold for cooking and free of lead."],["Cast iron or steel base with a clay lid","Works on every hob, induction included, and can brown the meat first. Heavier and more expensive."],["Decorated serving tagine","For bringing the dish to the table. Never on the heat."],["Size","26 to 28 cm for two or three people, 30 to 32 cm for four to six, 35 cm and more for a family meal."]]},{"h":"Seasoning a clay tagine","steps":["Soak the base and the lid in cold water for at least two hours, or overnight.","Let them dry, then rub the inside of both with olive oil.","Put them in a cold oven, set it to 150 °C and leave them for two hours.","Turn the oven off and let the tagine cool inside, without opening the door.","Wash with warm water, dry, and rub with a little oil once more."]},{"h":"Cooking with it","list":["Gas: the lowest flame, with a metal heat diffuser between the flame and the clay.","Electric and ceramic hobs: a diffuser as well, and start cold.","Induction: a clay tagine does not work. Use a cast iron base, or cook in the oven.","Oven: start cold, at 160 to 180 °C.","Start with oil and onions, add the rest, and do not lift the lid for the first half hour.","If it needs liquid, add warm water, never cold.","Put the hot tagine on wood or on a folded cloth, never on stone, tiles or a wet surface."]},{"h":"Washing and storing","list":["Let it cool completely. Then warm water and a soft brush; no washing-up liquid on unglazed clay, or the next dish tastes of it.","Stuck food: fill with warm water and a spoon of bicarbonate of soda, wait, then brush.","Dry it in the air for a full day before putting it away. Clay stored damp goes mouldy.","Store it with the lid slightly open, with a piece of paper towel between the lid and the base.","Mould after a long time in the cupboard: scrub with coarse salt and vinegar, rinse, dry in a low oven and oil again."]},{"h":"The other tools","rows":[["Couscoussier (borma and keskas)","A tall pot for the stew and a steamer that fits on top. Aluminium is light and traditional; stainless steel lasts and works on induction. Seal the joint between the two with a strip of cloth dipped in flour and water, so that the steam goes through the grain."],["Gsaa","A wide, shallow dish in clay or wood, for working couscous by hand and kneading bread. A very large mixing bowl replaces it."],["Brass mortar (mehraz)","For garlic, saffron, spices and herbs. Dry it at once after washing."],["Tanjia","The tall clay jar of Marrakech, cooked slowly in embers. At home: a low oven for five to six hours."],["Pressure cooker","The everyday pot of Moroccan homes today: harira, a weekday tagine, chickpeas."]]},{"h":"Spices and the cupboard","list":["Buy whole spices where you can and grind small amounts: ground spices lose their smell in about six months.","Keep them in closed jars, away from the hob and the light.","Ras el hanout is a mix, and each shop has its own. Buy little, from a shop that sells a lot.","Saffron: threads, never powder. Keep it dark and dry.","Preserved lemons and olives keep for months in their brine in the fridge. Use a clean fork.","Argan oil for eating is made from roasted kernels: it is darker, with a taste of nuts. The cosmetic oil is not roasted. Do not mix them up."]}],"mistakes":["First use straight on a high flame.","Cold water into a hot tagine.","Washing-up liquid on unglazed clay.","Putting it away damp, with the lid closed.","Cooking in a decorated serving tagine."]},{"id":"hammam","url":"https://bablblad.com/en/dar_hammam.html","t":"Hammam at home","s":"Black soap, the kessa glove and ghassoul: the steps of the weekly ritual in an ordinary bathroom, and how to give the bathroom itself the feeling of a hammam.","intro":"The hammam is heat, steam, black soap and a firm scrub. A bathroom with hot water is enough to do most of it, in about forty minutes.","key":["Three products do the work: black soap (savon beldi), a kessa glove and ghassoul clay.","The skin must stay warm and wet for ten minutes before scrubbing, or nothing comes off.","Once a week at most. Not on sunburnt, irritated or broken skin.","Each person has their own glove."],"sections":[{"h":"What you need","rows":[["Black soap (savon beldi)","A soft paste made from olives and olive oil. It does not foam. It softens the skin so that the glove can lift the dead skin. A jar of 200 g lasts for months."],["Kessa glove","A mitt of rough fabric. A finer grain for sensitive skin and the face, a coarser one for the body."],["Ghassoul","A clay from the Atlas, sold as flakes or powder. Mixed with warm water or rose water, it cleans skin and hair without soap."],["Argan oil or a body oil","For afterwards, on skin that is still slightly damp."],["Rose water or orange blossom water","To mix the clay and to finish."],["Extras","A small stool, a bowl to pour water, a pumice stone for the feet, henna for the hair."]]},{"h":"The steps","steps":["Warm the bathroom: run hot water for a few minutes with the door closed, or take a hot bath or shower for ten minutes.","On wet skin, spread a thin layer of black soap over the whole body, avoiding the eyes. Leave it five to ten minutes in the warmth.","Rinse well with warm water. The soap must be gone before you scrub.","Wet the glove, wring it out, and scrub with long, firm strokes: legs, arms, back, stomach. Small grey rolls of skin appear: that is the purpose.","Rinse. Wash your hair now if you wish.","Mix two or three spoons of ghassoul with warm water into a smooth cream. Apply it to body and hair and leave it five to ten minutes, without letting it dry hard.","Rinse for a long time, finishing with cooler water.","Pat the skin dry and rub in a few drops of argan oil. Drink water or tea and rest for a while."]},{"h":"Good to know","list":["If no skin comes off, the skin was not warm and wet for long enough, or the soap was not rinsed off.","The face: black soap for two minutes at most, then a fine glove with light strokes, or no glove at all.","Children: steam and soap, a soft glove with very light strokes, and no ghassoul near the eyes.","Rinse the glove, hang it to dry, and replace it when it has gone smooth.","Ghassoul can block a drain. Use a drain strainer and let the water run.","Pregnancy, heart or blood pressure problems, skin conditions: avoid long heat and ask your doctor first."]},{"h":"A bathroom with the feeling of a hammam","list":["One wall or the splashback in zellige, or in a tile with the same shine; tadelakt or a lime-look paint on the others.","A wooden or stone stool, a copper bowl, a brass tray for the products.","Plain jars and bottles, refilled: black soap, ghassoul, oil. Take the labels off.","Striped cotton towels (fouta) dry fast and take little space.","A pierced lantern rated for bathrooms, or a candle lantern on a shelf away from the water.","A plant that likes steam, and a small bunch of eucalyptus hung near the shower."]}],"mistakes":["Scrubbing dry or cold skin.","Scrubbing with the soap still on.","Doing it every other day: the skin needs a week.","Sharing gloves.","Letting ghassoul dry to a crust in the hair."]},{"id":"scents","url":"https://bablblad.com/en/dar_scents.html","t":"The scents of a Moroccan house","s":"Incense and oud, orange blossom water, amber, rose and fresh mint: what they are, how to use them, and how to do it safely in a flat.","intro":"Many people can name their grandmother's house by its smell. A few simple things bring that smell back: flower waters, wood, resins and mint.","key":["Incense on charcoal smokes strongly: a small piece is enough, with a window slightly open.","Charcoal stays hot for half an hour or more. The burner sits on a heatproof surface, away from children, curtains and pets.","Orange blossom water and rose water perfume a room, the linen and the hands without any smoke.","An electric burner gives the scent with almost no smoke: better in a small flat."],"sections":[{"h":"What is what","rows":[["Bkhour","Chips of wood or pressed mixes soaked in perfume oils. Sweet and strong. Burnt for guests, on Fridays and for celebrations."],["Oud","Agarwood. The real wood is rare and expensive and gives a deep, dry smoke. Most oud sold cheaply is perfumed wood."],["Jawi","Benzoin resin, in white or dark lumps. A soft smoke that recalls vanilla."],["Amber and musk blocks","Solid perfume in small cubes. No burning: rub one on the wrists, or leave a cube in a drawer, a wardrobe or a small dish."],["Orange blossom water (ma zhar)","Distilled from the flowers of the bitter orange tree. For pastries and coffee, and sprinkled on guests' hands from a mrach."],["Rose water (ma ward)","From the roses of the Dades valley and Kelaat M'Gouna. For the skin, the linen and the hammam."],["Dried rose buds, lavender, verbena","In bowls, sachets and wardrobes."],["Cedar and thuya wood","Their smell lasts for years and keeps moths away."]]},{"h":"Burning incense","steps":["Use a burner (mbakhra) made of clay or metal, with a layer of sand or ash in the bottom.","Hold a charcoal disc with tongs, light the edge, and put it in the burner when sparks have run across it.","Wait about five minutes, until it is covered in grey ash.","Put on a piece of incense the size of a lentil. Add more later instead of a lot at once.","Carry the burner through the rooms, or leave it in the hall with a window slightly open.","When you have finished, leave the charcoal in the burner until it is fully cold, at least an hour, or drown it in water."]},{"h":"In a flat","list":["Smoke detectors react to incense. Burn it away from them and air the room; do not take the detector down.","Neighbours share the stairwell and the ventilation. A small piece and an open window keep the peace.","An electric incense burner heats the wood or resin without charcoal: less smoke and a steady scent.","With asthma, babies, birds or cats in the house: prefer flower waters and wood to smoke.","Scent the linen instead: a spoon of orange blossom water or rose water in the spray bottle used for ironing, or in the last rinse."]},{"h":"Every day, without smoke","list":["A mrach of orange blossom water by the door, for guests' hands.","A bunch of fresh mint in a glass on the kitchen table.","A bowl of dried rose buds in the hall; refresh it with a few drops of rose water.","Cedar blocks in the wardrobes and with the rugs.","Orange peel and a cinnamon stick simmering in water on a winter afternoon."]},{"h":"Buying and keeping","list":["Flower waters: read the label. Real ones list distilled flower water and nothing else. Keep them in the fridge once open and use them within a few months.","Orange blossom water for cooking and the perfumed kind for the skin are not always the same product.","Incense keeps for years in a closed tin.","Travelling: flower waters count as liquids in hand luggage, and charcoal discs are generally forbidden on planes. Buy the charcoal where you live."]}],"mistakes":["A large lump of incense on fresh charcoal: thick smoke and a bitter smell.","Leaving a lit burner on a wooden table or a rug.","Throwing charcoal in the bin after ten minutes because it looks cold.","Buying oud at a price too good to be true and expecting oud."]},{"id":"plants","url":"https://bablblad.com/en/dar_plants.html","t":"Balcony, terrace and plants","s":"Mint that survives the winter, verbena and geranium for tea, jasmine, a lemon tree in a pot, and how to make a small balcony feel like a courtyard.","intro":"The Moroccan courtyard has four things: green, water, shade and a place to sit. A balcony of two square metres can have three of them, and mint for the tea.","key":["Mint goes in its own pot. In a shared pot it smothers everything else.","In cold climates, mint, verbena and fig trees can stay outside with protection; lemon trees, jasmine and bougainvillea come indoors before the first frost.","Herbs for tea want sun, regular water and to be cut often.","A few large pots look better and dry out more slowly than many small ones."],"sections":[{"h":"Herbs for tea and cooking","rows":[["Mint (na3na3)","Spearmint. Sun or half shade, soil always slightly damp, its own wide pot. Cut the stems often, above a pair of leaves, to keep it bushy. The top dies in frost and comes back in spring."],["Lemon verbena (louiza)","A small shrub with long leaves that smell of lemon, for evening tea. Full sun. It loses its leaves in winter; protect the pot from hard frost or keep it in a cold, bright room."],["Wormwood (chiba)","Grey and bitter, for winter tea, one sprig at a time. Sun, little water; it survives cold."],["Rose geranium (3atercha)","Scented leaves for tea and pastries. Sun, little water. Indoors in winter where it freezes."],["Pennyroyal (fliyo), sage (salmiya), marjoram (merdeddouch)","The other tea herbs. Sun, light soil, little water."],["Coriander and parsley","Sow every three weeks from spring; they run to seed fast in heat. Half shade in summer."]]},{"h":"Starting mint from a bunch","steps":["Buy a bunch of fresh Moroccan mint with firm stems.","Strip the lower leaves and stand the stems in a glass of water on a bright window sill.","Roots appear in one to two weeks. Change the water every two days.","When the roots are a few centimetres long, plant in a wide pot of ordinary potting soil.","Water often, cut often, and feed lightly in summer.","Every spring, tip the plant out, cut the root ball in four and replant one quarter in new soil."]},{"h":"Flowers, climbers and trees in pots","rows":[["Jasmine","For its smell on summer evenings. Sun, a trellis, regular water. Common white jasmine takes light frost; the more scented kinds do not, and spend the winter indoors."],["Bougainvillea","It needs full sun and little water to flower. No frost at all: indoors, cool and bright, in winter."],["Lemon or bitter orange tree","A large pot, citrus soil, sun, regular water and feed. Bring it into a bright, cool room when nights go under 5 °C."],["Olive tree","Sun, little water, a pot with good drainage. An established tree takes some frost; protect the pot in a long freeze."],["Fig tree","Fast, generous, happy in a large pot. It loses its leaves; wrap the pot in cold regions."],["Geraniums","The flowers of every Moroccan window. Sun, little water, and cuttings in late summer for next year."],["Pomegranate, oleander, rosemary, lavender","Sun lovers for a hot terrace. Oleander is poisonous: not with small children or pets."]]},{"h":"A balcony that feels like a courtyard","list":["Floor: outdoor tiles with a cement-tile pattern, or an outdoor rug with a kilim pattern, over the concrete.","A low bench with outdoor cushions along one side, as in a salon.","Terracotta pots in two or three sizes, grouped and not lined up. One large glazed pot in green or blue.","A small tiled table for the tea tray.","Shade: a cane screen, a cotton awning or a climbing plant on wires.","Lanterns with LED candles, and one string of warm lights.","The sound of water: a small solar fountain in a bowl.","Check the weight your balcony is allowed to carry before adding large pots, wet soil and tiles, and never fix anything that can fall."]},{"h":"By climate","list":["Northern Europe and Canada: choose pots that resist frost, raise them off the ground in winter, wrap them, and bring tender plants indoors. A bright, cool stairwell or a garage window is better than a warm living room.","Mediterranean Europe: almost everything stays outside. Water is the limit in summer.","The Gulf: the season is reversed. Plant in autumn, give shade from the midday sun, and water in the evening. Mint and coriander are winter crops there.","Indoors, anywhere: a bright window, pots with drainage holes, and less water in winter."]}],"mistakes":["Mint sharing a pot.","A little water every day: water deeply instead, then let the top of the soil dry.","Bringing a lemon tree into a hot, dark room for the winter.","Pots without holes.","Overloading a balcony."]},{"id":"small","url":"https://bablblad.com/en/dar_small.html","t":"A Moroccan touch in a small flat","s":"Twelve changes, from an afternoon to a weekend, most of them for less than the price of a restaurant meal, and what to do room by room.","intro":"You do not need a riad. A Moroccan feeling comes from a few things done well: low seating, warm light, one pattern, something made by hand, and the smell of mint or orange blossom when the door opens.","key":["Choose one strong element for each room: a rug, a tiled wall, a lantern or a bench. Not all four.","Handmade and imperfect next to plain and modern looks better than a room full of ornaments.","Low and warm: lower the light, lower the seating, warm the colours."],"sections":[{"h":"Twelve touches","list":["Change the bulbs of the living room to warm white and add one pierced lantern.","Put a tea tray with its teapot and glasses where it can be seen and used.","One wool rug or kilim, even a small one, by the sofa or the bed.","Three cushions in one Moroccan fabric: sabra, kilim or embroidered cotton.","A leather pouf as an extra seat and footrest.","Paint one niche, one door or a low band of wall in a colour from the palettes.","Hang one large piece on a wall: a kilim, a carved wooden panel or a brass tray.","A pot of mint on the window sill.","A bowl from Fès or Safi on the table, for fruit or bread.","A mirror with a carved wood, bone or metal frame in the hall.","A bottle of orange blossom water and a small dish of rose buds near the door.","Photographs of your family's town or house, in matching frames, hung as one group."]},{"h":"Room by room","rows":[["Hall","A mirror, a lantern, a small bench or a pouf for putting on shoes, a row of hooks, a runner on the floor."],["Living room","One bench or a low sofa with firm cushions, a low table, a rug that reaches the seats, two or three low lights. Keep the television on a plain wall."],["Kitchen","A tiled splashback or good tile stickers, a shelf with the tagine, the teapots and the spice jars in view, a kilim runner."],["Bedroom","Calm colours, a wool blanket or a blanket with pompoms folded at the foot of the bed, a pair of wall lanterns, a rug on each side."],["Bathroom","Striped foutas, a brass tray, refilled jars, one wall in colour."],["Children's room","A pouf, a small rug they can play on, a low shelf with books about Morocco, a map with the family's town marked."],["Balcony","Mint, a lantern, a low seat."]]},{"h":"If you rent","list":["Nothing here needs drilling into tiles or painting if the lease forbids it: rugs, textiles, lamps on existing points, furniture and plants.","Removable tile stickers, and paint that you cover again when you leave, are usually accepted: ask first.","Use the existing ceiling point for a lantern and keep the old fitting to put back.","Benches and shelves that stand free move with you."]},{"h":"Spending little","list":["Buy textiles and small pieces on a trip to Morocco, and large furniture where you live.","Second-hand sites in Europe and Canada are full of Moroccan lamps, tables and rugs bought on holiday and never used.","One good rug is worth more than ten small objects.","Sew cushion covers from one or two metres of fabric bought in a medina.","Ask the family before buying: there is often a tray, a teapot or a blanket waiting in a cupboard in Morocco."]}],"mistakes":["The souvenir shop look: many small objects on every surface.","Patterns everywhere: rug, cushions, tiles and wallpaper all competing.","Dark colours on every wall of a small room.","Furniture too large and too high for the room."]},{"id":"prayer","url":"https://bablblad.com/en/dar_prayer.html","t":"A prayer corner at home","s":"Finding the direction of the qibla from your city, and arranging a quiet, clean place for prayer, for reading and for the children.","intro":"A prayer corner needs little: a clear piece of floor of about 70 by 120 cm, facing the right way. What matters is that it is clean, calm and always ready.","key":["The qibla is the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca. From Europe it is towards the south-east; from Morocco, almost due east; from Canada and the United States, towards the north-east; from Dubai, Doha and Riyadh, towards the west and south-west.","Find it once with the tool on this page and a compass, then mark it discreetly.","Keep the place clean and clear. In a busy room, store the rug off the floor between prayers."],"sections":[{"h":"Finding the qibla","p":"Choose your city. The tool gives the direction as a compass bearing, measured clockwise from north.","list":["Open the compass of your phone, hold the phone flat and turn until it shows the number given.","Stand away from metal furniture, radiators, speakers and the fridge: they pull a compass off by many degrees.","Check twice, in two places in the room.","The direction from North America surprises many people: the shortest way to Mecca on the globe goes north-east, over the Atlantic.","Mark it with the edge of a rug, a small arrow inside a cupboard door, or the line of a floorboard."]},{"h":"Arranging the place","list":["A corner of the bedroom or the living room, out of the way of people passing and not facing the television.","A clean floor, a prayer rug, and a shelf or a small cupboard above floor level for the Quran and books.","A folding stand for reading, a string of prayer beads, a box or a basket for the rugs.","Soft, warm light: a wall lantern or a small lamp.","For someone who prays seated: a firm chair without arms, kept in the same place.","In a shared flat or a studio: a rug kept rolled in a basket and a mark for the direction are enough."]},{"h":"With children","list":["A small rug of their own next to yours.","A low shelf with their books, at their height.","A Ramadan calendar, and a lantern they light in the evening.","Let them help roll the rugs and choose where things go."]},{"h":"Ramadan and Eid","list":["Add a second rug for guests, and a tray with dates and water near the door.","The prayer times for your city are on the Today page."]}],"mistakes":["Trusting a compass next to a radiator or a metal shelf.","Guessing the direction: in most cities abroad the qibla is far from due east.","A place that has to be cleared of things before every prayer."]},{"id":"buying","url":"https://bablblad.com/en/dar_buying.html","t":"Buying crafts and bringing them home","s":"Where to buy, how to check quality and price, how to pack and ship, and what customs allow in the country where you live.","intro":"The summer trip is when most Moroccan homes abroad are furnished. A little preparation avoids the three classic problems: a bad buy, a broken parcel and a surprise at customs.","key":["Leaving Morocco, handicrafts bought for yourself can be taken out freely, whatever their value. Antiques and works of art need an authorisation.","Arriving where you live, goods above the traveller's allowance must be declared, and tax is due.","Keep every receipt, with the name of the shop, in your hand luggage.","Wood, plants, seeds and food have their own rules, stricter in Canada and the United States."],"sections":[{"h":"Where to buy","rows":[["Ensemble artisanal","State craft centres in the large cities, with workshops and fixed, displayed prices. The best place to learn the right price before going to the souk."],["Cooperatives","Weavers', potters' and argan cooperatives sell their own work. Ask to see the workshop."],["Workshops","For made to measure: a salon, a table, a lamp, a door. Agree the sizes, the wood, the finish, the price and the date in writing, with a deposit and a photo of a finished piece."],["Souks and medina shops","The widest choice; prices are discussed. Shops that sell to hotels and decorators often have the best quality."],["Shops and sites where you live","More expensive, but delivered and guaranteed, with nothing to carry. Compare for heavy things."]]},{"h":"Agreeing a price","list":["Look in several shops before asking any price.","Ask the price, then calmly offer what you are ready to pay. Leaving politely is part of it.","Paying in dirhams, in cash, gets the best price. For a large purchase, a card or a transfer gives you a record.","For anything expensive, ask for a receipt with the description and the price. You need it for customs and for insurance.","A guide or driver who brings you to a shop is usually paid a commission, and it is in your price. Go back alone."]},{"h":"Checking quality","list":["Brass and copper: the weight, clean soldering, a base that sits flat.","Wood: the joints, drawers that slide, no filler hiding cracks; thuya boxes with lids that close tight.","Leather: the stitching, an even colour, the smell. Rub a damp white cloth to check the dye.","Pottery: tap it. A clear ring means there is no crack. Ask if it is made for food.","Lamps: look at the cable and the socket.","Rugs: turn them over and look at the knots."]},{"h":"Packing and shipping","list":["Rugs: rolled or folded with the pile inside, in a strong bag. A wool rug of 2 x 3 m weighs 15 to 25 kg: check your baggage allowance, or pay for one more bag, often cheaper than a parcel.","Pottery and lamps: in hand luggage when possible, wrapped in clothes. Otherwise in two boxes, one inside the other, with 5 cm of padding on every side.","Poufs travel empty and flat.","By post or courier from Morocco: weigh and measure first, insure the value, write an honest description and value on the customs form, and keep the tracking number.","Furniture and whole salons: grouped transport by road or by sea, through a transport company. Ask for the price to your door, the insurance, and who pays customs on arrival.","By car on the ferry: keep the receipts with the passports, and declare on arrival if you are over the allowance.","Parcels are taxed differently from luggage: the traveller's allowance does not apply to goods sent separately."]},{"h":"Leaving Morocco","list":["Handicrafts and souvenirs bought in Morocco: free to take out, with no limit of value.","Antiques, works of art and collectors' pieces: a certificate from the cultural authorities must go with them. An honest antique dealer knows the procedure.","Fossils and minerals: a few pieces, as souvenirs.","Cash: you may take out up to 2,000 dirhams in Moroccan banknotes."]},{"h":"Arriving where you live","list":["Wooden objects, baskets, dried plants and seeds: declare them in Canada and the United States, where untreated wood and plant material are inspected. Finished, varnished wood is normally accepted.","Into the European Union and the United Kingdom, meat and dairy products from Morocco are not allowed in luggage, and most plants and seeds need a plant health certificate.","Objects made from protected animals or plants, such as tortoise shell, ivory, some reptile skins and coral, are forbidden or need a permit everywhere. Do not buy them."]}],"mistakes":["Buying on the first day, in the first shop.","No receipt for a rug worth more than the allowance.","Sending a parcel marked as a gift of no value. Customs open those first.","Trusting a shop that says it ships everything with no tax, without a written price to your door.","Buying an antique without papers."]},{"id":"house","url":"https://bablblad.com/en/dar_house.html","t":"Your house in Morocco: closing it and opening it","s":"Two checklists, for the day you leave and the day you arrive, and what to arrange so the house stays healthy while it is empty.","intro":"A house that is closed ten or eleven months a year suffers more from damp, leaks and small forgotten things than from use. An hour on the last day and an hour on the first day prevent most of it.","key":["Water closed at the meter, gas bottles closed, fridge empty and open: the three that matter most.","Air and cotton, not plastic: covers that breathe prevent mould.","One trusted person with a key, a written list of what to check, and your number.","Bills, tax and insurance can be followed online from abroad."],"sections":[{"h":"Before you leave","list":["Close the water at the meter and open one tap to release the pressure.","Close gas bottles at the valve and note the date printed on the rubber hose.","Empty, defrost and clean the fridge and the freezer. Unplug them and leave the doors wedged open.","Unplug televisions, internet boxes, chargers and the water heater. Switch off at the fuse box what is not needed; leave the circuit of an alarm or a camera.","Empty every bin and remove all food except sealed tins and jars.","Wash and fully dry bedding, towels and covers before storing them.","Stand mattresses on their side if you can, and cover them and the salon with cotton sheets, never plastic.","Roll wool rugs with cedar or a moth repellent, and store them off the floor.","Leave wardrobe and cupboard doors slightly open, with moisture absorbers if the house is near the sea.","Cover drains and the toilet bowl with a cloth and pour a little oil into the traps: it slows evaporation and keeps insects and smells out.","Close shutters and windows, check that the drains of the roof terrace are clear of leaves, and bring in anything the wind can carry.","Photograph the meters and each room.","Leave a key, your phone number and this list with the person you trust."]},{"h":"While you are away","list":["Ask for a visit once a month and after heavy rain: open the windows for an hour, look at ceilings and walls, check the terrace drains.","Agree in advance which small repairs can be done without calling you, and up to what amount.","Pay water, electricity and internet from abroad through your bank or the suppliers' sites and apps, and ask the operator whether the internet line can be paused.","Keep the yearly property taxes and, in a shared building, the syndic fees up to date. Unpaid amounts grow with penalties.","Home insurance: tell the insurer that the house is empty most of the year. Many contracts limit cover for theft or water damage in an unoccupied house.","A simple camera or a connected alarm needs electricity and internet left on: decide before you leave."]},{"h":"The day you arrive","list":["Open every window and shutter before anything else.","Open the water at the meter slowly, then let each tap run for a few minutes. Flush the toilets.","Look for leaks under the sinks, around the water heater and at the meter.","Check the gas hose: replace it if the printed date has passed or the rubber is cracked. Test the connection with soapy water, never with a flame.","Switch the electricity back on one circuit at a time.","Clean the fridge, plug it in, and wait two or three hours before filling it.","If the water heater has been off for months, empty and refill it, and heat it fully once before use.","Shake out the bedding, the salon covers and the rugs, and air them in the sun.","Look at ceilings and walls for new damp marks, and at the roof terrace.","Read the meters and compare with your photos."]},{"h":"Damp and mould","list":["On the coast, damp is the main enemy. Moving air matters more than heat.","Lime-based paint lets walls breathe; plastic paints trap damp behind them.","Keep furniture a few centimetres away from outside walls.","Wash mould off with diluted bleach or white vinegar, wearing gloves, then find where the water comes from.","The roof terrace is where most leaks start: have its waterproofing checked every few years, before the rainy season."]}],"mistakes":["Leaving the fridge plugged in with food for next time. One power cut ruins it.","Plastic sheets on beds and sofas.","No one with a key.","Water left open at the meter.","Discovering three years of unpaid tax on the day you want to sell."]}],"palettes":[{"id":"marrakech","name":"Marrakech","use":"Warm and enclosing. Ochre or pale pink walls, terracotta in the textiles, deep green in the plants and one painted piece of furniture.","colours":[{"name":"Marrakech ochre","hex":"#C8794F"},{"name":"Terracotta","hex":"#A44F36"},{"name":"Palm green","hex":"#2F6B4F"},{"name":"Sand","hex":"#E9D3A9"},{"name":"Night blue","hex":"#1F2A44"}]},{"id":"chefchaouen","name":"Chefchaouen","use":"Fresh and calm, good for small rooms and bathrooms. White above, blue below, as on the walls of the town.","colours":[{"name":"Lime white","hex":"#F7F5EF"},{"name":"Chefchaouen blue","hex":"#4F86C6"},{"name":"Powder blue","hex":"#A9C7E8"},{"name":"Indigo","hex":"#27408B"},{"name":"Terracotta","hex":"#C96A4A"}]},{"id":"fes","name":"Fès","use":"Formal and bright. White walls, with green, cobalt and saffron kept for tiles, a table, cushions.","colours":[{"name":"Lime white","hex":"#FAF7F0"},{"name":"Zellige green","hex":"#0B6947"},{"name":"Fès cobalt","hex":"#1F4FA3"},{"name":"Saffron","hex":"#E3A72F"},{"name":"Kohl black","hex":"#1B1B1B"}]},{"id":"essaouira","name":"Essaouira","use":"Light and airy. White walls, blue on doors and shutters, natural wood, grey linen.","colours":[{"name":"Lime white","hex":"#FAF7F0"},{"name":"Shutter blue","hex":"#2B6CB0"},{"name":"Rampart stone","hex":"#CFC6B8"},{"name":"Sea grey","hex":"#8E99A4"},{"name":"Thuya wood","hex":"#7A4A2B"}]},{"id":"majorelle","name":"Majorelle garden","use":"Bold: for one wall, a door or a balcony. The blue needs yellow or green beside it, and plenty of white.","colours":[{"name":"Lime white","hex":"#FAF7F0"},{"name":"Majorelle blue","hex":"#6050DC"},{"name":"Lemon yellow","hex":"#F2D03B"},{"name":"Cactus green","hex":"#3F7D4E"},{"name":"Terracotta","hex":"#C96A4A"}]},{"id":"sahara","name":"Sahara","use":"Soft and warm, for bedrooms. Sand and cream on the walls, burnt orange and camel in wool, one dark blue for depth.","colours":[{"name":"Cream","hex":"#F3E6CF"},{"name":"Dune","hex":"#D9A066"},{"name":"Burnt orange","hex":"#C4622D"},{"name":"Camel","hex":"#A9793F"},{"name":"Desert night","hex":"#1E2A5A"}]}],"travellerAllowances":[{"countries":["FR","ES","IT","BE","NL","DE"],"text":"430 euros per person arriving by air or sea, 300 euros by land. Some countries apply 150 euros under the age of 15. One object cannot be shared between two people's allowances: a rug worth more than the allowance is taxed on its whole value."},{"countries":["GB"],"text":"390 pounds per person. If you go over, tax and duty are due on the total value, not only on the part above the allowance."},{"countries":["CA"],"text":"800 Canadian dollars after an absence of 48 hours or more, 200 dollars after 24 hours. The goods must be with you."},{"countries":["US"],"text":"Usually 800 US dollars per person, after at least 48 hours abroad and once in 30 days."},{"countries":["AE"],"text":"Gifts up to 3,000 UAE dirhams per passenger, in non-commercial quantities."},{"countries":["SA"],"text":"Personal effects and gifts up to 3,000 Saudi riyals, with receipts."},{"countries":["QA"],"text":"Gifts and personal belongings up to 3,000 Qatari riyals."},{"countries":["CH"],"text":"150 Swiss francs per person and per day, children included."}],"ideas":["Change one bulb to warm white today: 2,700 K or lower.","Fill tea glasses two thirds, so guests can hold them by the rim.","Turn your rug half a turn: sun and footsteps wear one side first.","Put the tea tray where you can see it. A tray in a cupboard is never used.","Start a pot of mint from a bunch bought at the market: stems in water, roots in ten days.","Lacquered brass wants only soapy water. Lemon is for brass that has darkened.","Never put a hot tagine on a cold worktop. Use a wooden board.","A spoon of orange blossom water in the iron's spray bottle perfumes the sheets.","Vacuum a wool rug with suction only, no rotating brush.","One strong colour in a niche or on a door does more than four painted walls.","A new leather pouf smells of the tannery: air it open for a few days before filling it.","Store a clay tagine with the lid slightly open, so it never goes mouldy.","Three low lamps make a room warmer than one ceiling light.","Before guests arrive: open the windows for ten minutes, then burn a piece of incense the size of a lentil.","Mint always goes in its own pot.","Count 60 cm of bench for each guest.","Dry a brass tray as soon as it is washed: water marks are what dull it.","Cedar blocks in the wardrobe keep moths away and smell of the Atlas.","Roll a rug to store it, never fold it, and wrap it in cotton, not plastic.","Zellige is cleaned with black soap or neutral soap, never with vinegar.","Keep twelve tea glasses, not six: they break, and guests come in numbers.","A kilim on the wall above the bench warms a room and softens its sound.","The kessa glove once a week at most: the skin needs time.","Paint a low band of colour up to 110 cm with white above, like zellige panelling.","Group lanterns in threes of different heights.","Buy whole cumin and grind a little at a time: the smell is another spice.","Leaving the house in Morocco? Fridge empty, door open, plug out.","A photo of the family house, framed in the hall, is the simplest Moroccan touch.","Repeat a colour three times in a room, in three different materials.","A bowl of dried rose buds in the hall, refreshed with a few drops of rose water."]}