Traditional Kashmiri Kahwa recipe | How to make perfect Kahwa Tea | Kahwa Green Tea for Weight Loss

To kick-start a morning, to relax in the mid-morning or to burst out the stress, a cup of tea steeped to perfection is what we need, isn't it? Why shouldn't that tea be the one steeped with loads of flavours, a bucket of goodness, and a divine taste? Yes! Brew up a perfect cup of Kahwa tea and get yourself tied to the rich taste of the Golden beauty. 

Kashmir is a place of stunning beauty, and home of infinite rich & royal delicacies influenced by Mughals. The dry fruits, saffron, and roses used in the Kashmiri recipes make them taste extraordinarily royal, opening in-depth gates to richness and royalty. Though most popular recipes from Kashmir are non-vegetarian, there is a lot more interesting stuff when coming to Kashmiri-style vegetarian dishes and beverages.

The one lovable Kashmiri beverage that wins the heart with the creamy texture, yummy taste, and beautiful pinkish tint is nothing but the Noon Chai/Pink Tea. The other quintessential beverage of Kashmir that wins the soul with its spectacular golden colour, and the breath-taking mild flavour is Kahwah/Kahwa/Qahwa/Kehwa tea.

So, What is Kahwa Tea?

Kashmiri Kahwa is a flavour-loaded variation of green tea. To elaborate, Kahwa Green Tea is an exotic mix of nuts, saffron, roses, whole spices and green tea leaves. Preparing Kahwa Tea is so simple, but the flavour & taste of the Kehwa tea is very detailed with the blasting fusion combo of the spices, saffron and roses.

How the Kahwa is made traditionally?

Traditionally, Kahwa tea is prepared in a brass container that holds a fire chamber in the middle. The surrounding space is used to brew up the Kahwa tea. Unlike the traditional custom, Kahwa tea can also be prepared using a saucepan.

The authentic way of making Kashmiri Kahwa is with cinnamon, cardamom, saffron, nuts, and green tea leaves. Occasionally, the rose petals are added for the additional bliss of aroma. Some people add cloves along with cinnamon and cardamom. I have been making Kahwa since ever I came across this super comfort beverage, and is always my best after-breakfast partner to relax with, after the busy morning hours. After experimenting with various spices combos, I started to add star anise to the whole spices list as it resulted in the blissful flavour outcome.

If you want a mild flavour in your Kahwa tea, add only the cinnamon and cardamom. If you love a strong flavour of the spices in the Kahwa, add cloves and star anise along with cinnamon, cardamom. Either way, Kahwa tastes just awesome.

Know the health benefits of drinking Kahwa tea:

Proper digestion - helps in flushing out the toxins and promote good digestive health.

Weight Loss - Kahwa is mainly served after meals to wash away the fat and to hinder the deposition of cholesterol.

Stress Reliever - the antioxidants present in the Kahwa tea helps in relieving the stress.

Strong Immunity - saffron and cloves are added to strengthen the defence system of the body.

Energy Booster - a cup of hot Kahwa kick-off the tiredness, and keeps you active the day long.

A cup of hot Kahwa keeps the body warm from the inside, and that's why Kashmiris consume this Kahwa tea regularly after their meals. Not only in the winters, but Kahwa tea can also be enjoyed anytime as even a single sip of Kahwa would make you float in the heavenly taste, for sure. When the Kahwa is prepared, the whole home would be surrounded by the mild fragrance of the spices, and when you taste it, you would enter a new world filled with bliss.

The best Sweetener for Kahwa:

As a sweetener, Honey is usually preferred. Some people go for refined sugar that I don't suggest. You can go for Palm candy instead of Honey which adds even more health-goodness to the Kahwa tea. 

How to brew up a perfect cup of Kahwa tea?

• Crush & add - the whole spices have to be crushed before adding to the water to better infuse the flavours into the Kahwa tea.
• Allow the crushed whole spices to get boiled in the water for about 3 minutes. This will let the spices seep out their flavours into the water.
• Turn off the stove and then add green tea leaves. Adding green tea leaves to the boiling water may impart some bitterness to the Kahwa tea. So, always add green tea leaves to the hot water and not to the boiling water.
• Steep the green tea leaves for about 3 minutes, and then strain out immediately. Doing so would prevent the Kahwa tea from getting bitterness.
• Adding more spices, more rose petals, and more green tea leaves can also leave some bitter imprints into the Kahwa tea.
• Do not reheat the Kahwa tea before straining out the ingredients. Strain out, and you can reheat the golden tea anytime before consumption.

So, the right things, the right amount of things, and the right steeping technique lends you the perfectly flavoursome Kahwa tea that rocks with the mutual flavour blend of spices, saffron and rose petals. The sweetener, saffron and sliced almonds can be added at the time of serving. Instead of sliced almonds, sliced cashews, pistachios or even dried fruits like dates, figs or cherries can also be added.

Explore more healthy beverages from my cookbook:

Dry Drumstick leaves tea, Hibiscus Tea & Sharbat,  Hibiscus Hot & Sour Soup, Nuts milkshake, Gooseberry Juice,  Ginger Mint Lemonade,  Kashmiri Pink Tea, Ragi Hot Chocolate with Jaggery, ABC kids malt, Bajra Raab.

Have you tried this recipe?

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⏲ Steeping Time: 3 minutes
⏲ Cooking Time: 3 minutes

🍴 Yields: 3 cups

Traditional Kashmiri Kahwa recipe

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The traditional rich-tasting Kashmiri beverage with the perfect flavour blend of  green tea leaves, whole spices, dried rose petals, saffron, and nuts.

What do you need?[1 cup = 200 ml]

• Water - 3 cups
• Cinnamon - 2-inch stick
• Cardamom pods - 3
• Cloves - 3
• Star anise - 1 (optional)
  
• Dried rose petals - 2 tbsp
• Green tea leaves - 3 tsp
• Honey - 1 tbsp (for each cup)
• Sliced nuts - 1 tbsp (for each cup)(cashews, almonds, pistachios)
• Saffron - a few strands (for each cup)
  

Steps Involved:

• In a saucepan, add three full cups of water.
• Crush all the whole spices, and add them to the water.
• Add the dried rose petals to the water.
• Bring the water to boil and let the spices boil for 3 minutes to seep out the flavour.
• Turn off the flame, and then add in the green tea leaves.
• Close with a lid, and steep for 3 to 5 minutes.
• Strain out the Kahwa tea.
• To the serving cups, add saffron, honey and sliced nuts.
• Add the hot Kahwa tea, mix well, and serve hot.
  

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For comforting the easy understandability of the recipe, the step by step, detailed procedure, along with the picture is shown below:

Step-by-Step Procedure with Pictures

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How to Make?

• Take 3 full cups of water in a saucepan.

• In a mortar pestle, add 2 pieces of cinnamon sticks. Adding more spices could alter the taste of the Kahwa tea.

• To the same mortar pestle, add 3 pieces of cloves. Though cloves can be omitted, I suggest adding them for the added flavour & health goodness.

• Now, add 3 cardamom pods.

• Add in a piece of star anise. This step is optional.

• Crush all the whole spices slightly. This step is  done to better infuse the flavours into the Kahwa tea.

• Now, add the crushed spices into the water.

• Also, add 2 tablespoons of dried rose petals to the water. Though the flavour of the roses would be unnoticed, it blends beautifully with the other spices ending up adding a mild soothing fragrance to the Kahwa tea. The fresh petals can also be used here. Adding more rose petals may impart slight bitterness to the Kahwa tea. 

• Bring the water to boil and let the spices seep out their flavour completely by continuing the boiling process for 3 minutes.

• Turn off the flame now.

• Now, add the green tea leaves to the flavoured hot water.

• Close with a lid, and allow to steep for 3 minutes. Do not steep for more than 5 minutes as the tea may show off the tartness.

• Strain out the Kahwa tea after steeping.

• Add  a tablespoon of  honey to each serving cup.

• Add in the sliced almonds, pistachios, and cashews. Any dry fruits can be added to the Kahwa tea.

• Now, add a few strands of saffron to the hot Kahwa tea. The saffron can be added to the boiling water along with the spices and the roses.

• Pour a cup of hot Kahwa tea into the serving glasses.

• Mix honey, nuts & saffron with the hot Kahwa tea. And, it's time to get the divinely feel. Have a sip and enjoy thoroughly!

Tips:

• Adding green tea leaves to the boiling water may add some bitterness to the Kahwa tea. Always add green tea leaves after switching off the flame. 
• Crush the whole spices before adding, and that would help them release their flavours completely into the Kahwa tea resulting in an amazing flavour blend.
  

Royal Beverage to flush the Toxins out!