Kashmiri Kahwa Tea Recipe | Cook Click N Devour!!! (2024)

Kahwa is a soothing Kashmiri tea with green tea leaves, whole spices, saffron, almonds and dried rose petals. It is a no milk tea which always served hot, helps in keeping the body warm and soothes the throat during winters. Here is how to make it at home easily.

For more no Indian chai recipes please check ginger tea, masala chai, mint tea, chocolate tea recipes.

OF all the herbal tea recipes available out there, this Kashmiri tea called kahwa is my all time favorite 🙂 Yes, it is so so flavorful, absolutely soothing and it is a pure joy in every sip.

Herbal and spiced teas are very popular in India and there are quite a few varieties of it. Sulaimani tea, this kahwa tea, pudina adrak tea, lemongrass tea, fennel tea are a few to name.

These herbal and spice teas are very light on tummy, mostly made without milk and sweetener and helps in digestion, treating on cold, building immunity, relieving stress etc.

This Kashmiri green tea called kahwa is one such drink that is so good for winters. You can have it after lunch to aid digestion or in the evenings to unwind. It is super easy to make this at home and here is the recipe with all the details you need to know 🙂

About This Recipe

What Is Kahwa?

Kahwa recipe is a healthy and soothing kashmiri tea with green tea leaves, few whole spices. Saffron and rose buds are added for flavor.

Kashmiri cuisine is popular for its robust, flavorful dishes that are surprisingly easy to make like methi chaman. Spices like saffron are used widely to keep the body warm, given to the cold weather.

Apart from rich curries, Kashmiri cuisine also has interesting beverages like this kahwa, pink tea and many more.

This kehwa chai is wonderful beverage, super easy to make and perfect for cold winter days. Though it is a winter beverage, you can make and enjoy this drink throughout the year.

Traditionally kahwa is made in a brass kettle called samovar in Kashmir. If you have cooked food in brassware you may know the wonderful flavor it imparts. Yes, traditional Indian cookwares made of brass, iron, earthenware lends a wonderful flavor to the dishes.

So at home if you have a brass kettle, do use it for brewing this tea. If brass kettle is unavailable you can use any kettle or saucepan.

Why This Recipe Works

This kashmiri kahwa tea recipe is for brewing this tea from scratch as opposed to picking up a pack of this tea blend from the stores.

Yes, this kahwa tea blend or bags are easily available in stores as well as online. It is essentially a blend of green tea with spices like cardamom, cinnamon, saffron and rose buds.

While it is surely convenient, there is simply no comparison for homemade kahwa. You can totally control the spices and its proportions, use premium quality green tea and even make it low caffeine if you like.

If you have tasted this tea in quite a few places you may know that the taste greatly varies. Sometimes, this tea tends to be a bit bitter which means the green tea has be boiled and not steeped.

I prefer to steep my green tea leaves in hot water for 2 minutes to impart a good yet not overpowering flavor.

I also have added some sliced almonds in this tea for more flavor. We prefer this tea unsweetened as the saffron, rose, almonds adds a wonderful taste and flavor. However if you like you can add sugar or even better honey to sweeten this tea.

Do make this kahwa tea and enjoy, it is

easy to make

vegan, no milk added

made with exotic spices

delicious and aromatic

refreshing and soothes the throat.

Ingredients

Tea leaves– Traditionally loose green tea ;eaves are used for brewing this tea. I have used organic green tea leaves for this tea.

If you want to make this drink caffeine free go for caffeine free tea leaves or tisane like rose. You can also simply skip green tea leaves in this recipe.

Almonds– Slivered almonds are used in this tea not only for flavor and richness but also for its warming properties. Almonds with skin or raw almonds produce heat in the body and it very much suited for winters.

If you are making this tea in harsh summers, you can use blanched and peeled almonds. In place of almonds you can also pistachios or walnuts.

Spices– The spices used in this tea or cardamom, cinnamon, saffron. Use can also use star anise for a strong flavor.

Rose buds– Dried rose buds or petals add a wonderful royal flavor. If you have fresh organic rose petals you can use it.

How To Make Kashmiri Kahwa

Gather the ingredients for kahwa. For brewing three cups of this tea you will need 3 cups of water, 3 teaspoons green tea leaves, 1/2 inch cinnamon sticks, 1 tablespoon dried rose petals, 3 green cardamoms, a fat pinch of saffron and 6-7 almonds.

Add 3 cups water to a saucepan or kettle and heat it. Add all the ingredients expect green tea leaves and almonds.

Bring to a boil.

Let the ingredients boil well in water for 2-3 minutes.

Add green tea leaves and switch off the flame.

Cover the pan and let the tea steep for 2-3 minutes. For a strong green tea flavor you can steep for 5 minutes.

Strain the tea using a tea strainer.

Add slivered almonds and serve kahwa immediately.

Expert Tips

Steeping tea– We like mild flavor of green tea so I steep it for just 2 minutes. For more flavor go ahead and steep for 4-5 minutes.

Some people prefer that bitter green tea taste and for that add the green tea leaves and boil for 2 minutes.

Sweeteners– I prefer this tea without any sweetner to get the flavor of spices and rose. But you can easily add sugar or honey here. If you are using sugar add along with the other ingredients and let boil.

If you are using honey add after straining the tea while it is warm. Do not boil honey.

Spices– If you do not have any spices or do not like the flavor you can simply skip them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kahwa Good For Health?

This tea is made of all healthy ingredients and has immense health benefits when taken in moderation. Thye spices used in this tea aids digestion and it is traditionally served in Kashmiri homes after a meal.

The green tea leaves increases the metabolism and helps in burning fat. This tea is also an excellent stress reliever, which I can personally vouch for and a good immunity and energy booster too.

The warming spices like cinnamon in this tea helps in removing in congestion and acts as remedy for cold. The saffron, almonds are great for skin health too.

Where to buy green tea?

Loose green tea leaves used for this recipe is easily available in many organic stores, health food stores and ethnic stores. You can purchase this online easily.

Kahwa tea blend or pre mix is also easily available on amazon. I do not like to promote or influence a particular brand as what work for me may not work for you. Just look at the ingredients and get the one with good quality. In USA you may find this premix in Indian stores or ethnic stores.

Is kahwa good for weight loss?

All the ingredients used in this tea are good for increasing metabolism and fat loss. So having a serving of this daily may induce weight loss if proper diet and exercise regimen is followed.

More Herbal Tea Recipes

Turmeric tea

saffron tea

strawberry tea

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