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Kahwa
Kashmiri green tea brewed with saffron, cardamom and cinnamon, served with slivered almonds
Kahwa is the warming green tea of Kashmir, traditionally brewed in a brass samovar and poured for guests on cold winter days. Green tea leaves are infused with saffron, green cardamom and cinnamon, sweetened lightly and served with slivered almonds in each cup. It's golden, fragrant and soothing, and is drunk after heavy meals to help digestion. Chef's tip: never boil the tea leaves; simmer the spices first, then let the tea steep off the heat for just 2 minutes or it turns bitter.
- Total time
- 10 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Bring 4 ¼ cups water to a boil with 4 green cardamom pods and 1 cinnamon stick, then lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes so the spices give up their flavour.
5 minStep 2: Add 10 strands saffron and simmer for 1 minute more; the water turns golden.
1 minStep 3: Take the pan off the heat, add 2 tsp green tea leaves and 1 tsp dried rose petals if using, cover and steep for 2 minutes only. Longer and the green tea turns bitter and astringent.
2 minStep 4: Stir in 3 tsp sugar until dissolved. Put a few slivers of 10 almonds in each cup, strain the hot kahwa over and serve at once. Fish out the almonds with the last sip.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 45 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 6 g
- Fat
- 3 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kahwa take?
- About 10 minutes in total: 2 minutes to prepare and 8 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- What can I use instead of green cardamom pods?
- A pinch of ground cardamom per 2 pods.
- What can I use instead of cinnamon stick?
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon per stick.
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