The traditional drink in Mali is the Malian Tea which should be drunk in three (3) stages: the first is very strong (as bitter as death); the second is slightly sweetened (just like life); and the third is well sugared (as sweet as love). Visitors to Mali may be invited to partake in this tea ritual. Mali is a landlocked republic in the African continent which shares borders with Mauritania, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Niger and Senegal.