Kahwa is a Kashmiri tea flavored with cinnamon, cardamom, and saffron. It is a great drink to sip on cold winter days but can be had throughout the year. Here is how to make it at home.
Kashmir, what do you think when you hear the name of this beautiful place?
Well, I always think about this beautiful serene place surrounded by snow with me admiring the beauty with a hot cup of tea in my hand.
And whenever I miss this beautiful place, I just make myself a hot cup of its traditional tea, Kahwa.
Apart from its beauty, Kashmir is also very popular for its cuisine.
From its curries, beverages to desserts, everything is just so delicious, rich, and unique.
Just like the delicacies, the Kashmiri beverages are quintessentially complex yet interestingly simple.
It is a popular beverage and people throughout Kashmir keep sipping on to this to keep their body warm during the severe cold months.
Ingredients such as kesar and whole spices give instant relief from that chilled weather outside.
While it’s popularly made in Winters, you can make it throughout the year.
So give your usual tea a break sometimes, and try this Kahwa Tea.
Here are some more Tea recipes, that you can sip on to comfort yourself – Lemon Tea, Strawberry Tea, Indian Masala Chai, Hibiscus Tea, Turmeric Ginger Tea, Herbal Saffron Tea, and Adrak Wali Chai.
What is Kahwa Tea?
Kashmiri Kahwa or Kehwa Chai is a traditional Kashmiri tea flavored with cardamom and infused with cloves, cinnamon, and saffron.
It was traditionally prepared in a brass kettle known as samovar.
It is basically green tea with flavors of spices.
This tea drink is generally served with a sprinkling of chopped dry fruits like almonds, cherry pistachios, or cashew nuts, almonds being the most popular.
Kashmiri Kahwa Tea has many health benefits and is a great option to include in our lifestyle.
Ingredients
To make this tea, you need a few ingredients such as green tea, saffron, cinnamon, cloves, dried rose petals, cardamom, and almonds.
Yes, that’s it!
Other than almonds, you can also add in pistachios or cashew nuts.
If you can’t find Kahwa green tea, you can use any green tea to make this beverage.
If you like your Kahwa to be a little sweet, you can add in a little honey while it’s hot and mix it properly.
Health Benefits
It is usually served after meals in any Kashmiri household as it aids in digestion and burns the fat.
It reduces the risk of heart disease by keeping the deposition of cholesterol in check.
Saffron used in kahwa is rich in vitamin B12 and aids in immunity building and keeping the body’s defense mechanism in check.
Since it is rich in antioxidants, it is a great stress buster and it also helps to improve metabolism.
It is a great remedy for cold and cough and improves skin health.
How to make Kahwa at home?
“Traditionally, kahwah is prepared in a copper kettle known as a samovar.
A samovar consists of a “fire-container” running as a central cavity, in which live coals are placed keeping the tea perpetually hot.
Around the fire-container, there is a space for water to boil and the tea leaves and other ingredients are mixed with the water.
Kahwah may also be made in normal pans and vessels, as modern-day urban living may not always permit the use of elaborate samovars” – Wikipedia
Making it at home is fairly easy. The only thing you need to source is the special tea leaves.
I usually order it through Amazon but you can check with your local stores.
Other than that it uses the basic ingredients like whole spices and saffron.
Check out the step by step recipe below to see how to make it at home.
The only thing to keep in mind while making Kahwa is that you should not add leaves while the heat is on.
Boil the water with spices and saffron and then switch off the heat. Let the water rest for a few seconds and then add the tea leaves.
It helps to retain the nutrition in the tea intact and does not hamper with the taste.
Strain the tea after one minute of infusing otherwise it will become bitter.
Where to buy Kahwa Tea Leaves from?
Kashmiri Kahwa Tea is made with fine green tea combined with various spices, nuts, and saffron. You can buy the tea online here.
I like to try out different brands and this time I tried this one and loved it. You can give it a try to.
If you live in the US, this brand sounds promising.
You can also make this tea using the regular green tea that you already have in your pantry.
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Step by Step Recipe
Heat water in a pan.
Add saffron, cinnamon, cloves, dried rose petals and cardamom in water and let it simmer for 3-4 minutes.
Switch off the heat and add green tea in the water. Let the tea steep for a minute.
Strain the tea in 2 cups. Add almond slivers and a few strands of saffron. Add honey if you like your kahwa slightly sweet. Serve hot.
Kashmiri Kahwa Tea Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tsp Kashmiri Green Tea
- 3 cups Water
- 10-12 strands Saffron
- ½ inch stick Cinnamon
- 1 Clove
- 1 Cardamom (Crushed)
- ½ tsp Dried rose petals
- 2 tsp Almonds (Silvered)
- 1 tsp Honey (Optional)
Instructions
- Heat water in a pan.
- Add saffron, cinnamon, cloves, dried rose petals and cardamom in water and let it simmer for 3-4 minutes.
- Switch off the heat and add green tea in the water.
- Let the tea steep for a minute.
- Strain the kahwa in 2 cups.
- Add almond slivers and a few strands of saffron.
- Add honey if required.
- Serve hot.
Notes
Nutrition
