Kashmiri Kahwa Recipe | Kahwa Cha » Dasana’s Veg Recipe

Kashmiri Kahwa is an aromatic, warm, mild green tea made with whole spices, saffron and nuts like almonds or walnuts. Using whole aromatic spices and saffron, Kahwa tea creates warmth for the body – perfect for the cold weather of Kashmir.

About Kahwa

Kahwa is one of my favorite ways to consume green tea. I have no shame in admitting that I am addicted to it! I make myself a cup of Kahwa Chai every evening and sometimes after lunch.

It refreshes, revitalizes, relaxes, soothes, calms and makes you feel good. This is the effect of saffron and green tea to do their work.

I also made kahwa chai with premade kahwa tea available in the market. To be honest, I prefer to make kahwa with green tea leaves and add the spices myself according to the season.

This Kashmiri Kahwa recipe shows you how to make a perfect cup of Kahwa with whatever spices you have on hand. I can almost guarantee it will banish your blues.

Remember, this is how I make Kahwa. It may not be authentic, but it is delicious. You will love kahwa made this way.

Kashmiri kahwa ingredients

1. green tea leaves – Use any good brand of green tea leaves – especially organic green tea. Some variations of kahwa are made without green tea, relying only on spices. If you need a caffeine-free sipper, skip the green tea.
2. spices – Originally, kahwa was made with only two main spices: cardamom and cinnamon. In addition to these two aromatic spices, some varieties use cloves and saffron.
3. rose petals – For some light, sweet, aromatic notes, I also add dried rose petals. I dry rose buds from my terrace garden and use them in kahwa. Rose petals are an optional ingredient and you can skip them.
4. nuts – Kahwa is usually added with slivered or chopped nuts. Walnuts can also be used in place of almonds.
5. Sweetener – For sweets, I use unrefined cane sugar or raw sugar. Honey is often recommended in other recipes, but I don’t recommend adding honey to hot tea because honey becomes toxic when heated. For sugar-free coffee, skip adding sugar.

Swap ingredients

• Sweetener: You can add or omit the sweetener of your choice.
• Spices: If you don’t have cloves you can skip it but green cardamom and cinnamon are essential.
• Rose Petals: Being an extraneous ingredient, omit the rose petals, if you don’t have any.
• Saffron: I know saffron is an expensive spice and if you don’t have it then skip it.

How to make a perfect cup of coffee

Copper vessels known as Kahwa are made Samovar In Kashmir. These are large vessels in which tea is prepared. In the home kitchen, kahwa is made in a pan.

Some prefer to steep the green tea leaves for a few minutes. I don’t recommend you do this unless you like a bitter taste.

Instead, steep green tea leaves in hot – not boiling – water for a few minutes. I have made tea with green tea leaves boiled in water and it destroys the delicate taste and smell. If you have a thermometer handy, aim for around 80 to 82°C (175 to 180°F).

In this kahwa recipe, the spices are lightly crushed to release their flavor and then simmered for 2 to 3 minutes.

Then the heat is turned off, green tea leaves are added, and then everything is steeped in hot water for 2 to 3 minutes. After that, the kahwa tea is strained and ready to serve.

Add saffron

I personally do not add saffron while making tea, because why waste expensive saffron? The tea leaves and spices are strained and the saffron is wasted. Adding saffron to the cup and having both tea and saffron makes more sense to me.

Step by step guide

How to make Kahwa Tea Recipe

preparation

1. Before starting making Kahwa prepare all the spices. You will need the following spices:

• 2 inches of cinnamon
• 2 green cardamom pods
• 2 cloves
• 5 to 6 dried rose petals – optional
• 10 to 12 saffrons

Be sure to use real cinnamon, not cassia cinnamon.

2. Take cinnamon, cloves and green cardamom in a mortar-pestle. Grind them lightly.

3. Thinly slice 4 to 5 almonds. Almonds can also be crushed in a mortar and pestle if you prefer.

You can also replace almonds with 2 to 3 walnuts; Just cut or crush them and set aside. Optionally, you can rinse the almonds before chopping them.

Make coffee and tea

4. Take 2 cups of water in a saucepan. Place the saucepan on the stove over medium heat.

5. Add mild powdered spices to the water.

6. Add 5 to 6 dry rose petals. You can omit the rose petals if you want.

7. Add 2 tablespoons of sugar (or add to taste).

8. Bring the water to a gentle boil over medium heat.

9. Turn off the heat. Place the pan on the kitchen counter-top.

Add 1 teaspoon of green tea. You can add more or less green tea leaves depending on your preference.

10. Cover the pan with a lid and steep the tea leaves in hot water for 2 to 3 minutes.

11. After 2 to 3 minutes, pour the kahwa tea into small cups using a tea strainer.

12. Add 3 to 4 saffron strands and chopped almonds to each cup and stir.

13. Serve Kahwa and enjoy this fragrant light green tea. Kashmiri Kahwa can be served as lunch or dinner tea. You can drink Kahwa tea as an evening drink before going to bed.

Expert tips

• Brewing time: I usually brew green tea for 2 to 3 minutes. Depending on the grade and quality of the leaves, the ripening time can vary from 2 to 5 minutes. Do not steep or steep the leaves for too long as this will make the tea bitter.
• With honey: I do not recommend adding honey as a sweetener. According to Ayurveda, honey becomes poisonous when heated or dissolved in hot liquids.
• Where to buy: Green tea leaves can be obtained from any health store, supermarket or online. Kahwa pre-made mixes can be purchased online.

FAQs

More tea and coffee!

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This Kashmiri Kahwa Chai recipe was updated from the archives first published in July 2019 and republished in February 2023.