What is the etiquette when invited to a Moroccan home?

Being invited into a Moroccan home is one of the loveliest things that can happen to you here, and I never want a client to fumble it out of nerves. Hospitality — "diyafa" — is close to sacred in Moroccan culture; a guest is considered a blessing on the house. So the first thing is simply to accept with visible warmth and gratitude. Arriving more or less on time is fine, though do not be surprised if the household runs on a relaxed clock. The mood is generous, not formal, and your hosts want you to feel at ease far more than they want you to perform perfect manners.

Always bring a small gift — never arrive empty-handed. A box of good pastries from a patisserie, a cone of fine dates or dried fruit and nuts, sugar or a nice tea are all classic and welcome; something representative of your own country (a sweet, a small craft) is charming and remembered. Avoid alcohol unless you know the household drinks, and present the gift with your right hand or both hands. At the door, watch the family: if shoes come off, yours come off too, and you will often be offered slippers. Greet the eldest person in the room first, and if there are women present, follow their lead on whether to shake hands.

At the table, the great ritual is the shared dish — a tagine or couscous eaten communally, often by hand. Use your right hand only (the left is considered unclean for eating), eat from the wedge of the dish directly in front of you rather than reaching across, and let your host pass you the best morsels, which they will, because feeding a guest generously is a point of pride. You will be urged to eat more than you can manage; taking a little of everything and praising the food ("bsseha" and "ladida" — to your health, delicious) delights a Moroccan cook. Mint tea, poured from a height into small glasses, bookends the visit — accept at least a glass, as tea is the heart of the welcome.

A few graces that go a long way. Compliment the home and the cooking, but avoid lavishly admiring a specific object — in the most traditional households a host may feel obliged to give it to you. Do not photograph the family, the women especially, without asking. When you finally leave, thank them sincerely and, if it feels right, invite them in return or say you hope to host them one day. I have seen brief homestay teas turn into lifelong friendships and return invitations, because the warmth you offer is mirrored straight back. Relax, follow the family's cues, and let yourself be looked after — that is exactly what they want.