Kahwa - The Magic Tea from India

The winters this year are being really chilly! I was reading the other day that the minimum temperature in New Delhi this year has hit the lowest in 44 years! With hazy days, foggy mornings and misty evenings, every one simply craves for a hot steaming cup of tea. The tea has many therapeutic properties, health benefits and is the easiest, tastiest, fastest way to push away lethargy in winters. Jammu & Kashmir and other northern parts of India, have their traditional tea called Kahwa. The made with Kahwa tea leaves is said to warm the body and is especially good for the respiratory tract related illnesses. You can easily get Kahwa tea in good grocery stores, and all supermarkets. I got my packet from Jammu last year and it’s really good. Recipe is very simple and can be made with normal tea leaves also to give a different flavour to the otherwise common regular tea.

Makes 2 cups

Cooking Time 10 mins

Ingredients

Crushed Kahwa tea leaves      1 tsp

Green Cardamom (Elaichi)      2

Cinnamon                               2 inch stick

Sugar                                      3 tsp (or per taste)

Saffron Strands                       3-4

Almonds, finely crushed          4-5

Recipe of Kahwa tea

• Pound the cardamom and cinnamon into a powder with a pestle.
• Pour 3 cups of water in a pan. Add crushed Kahwa leaves, above powder, Sugar and saffron. Bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer for 5-6 mins or till tea gets dark golden.
• Strain into tea cups.
• Sprinkle the crushed almonds on top and serve hot.

Note: Kahwa tea is usually made without milk. If you do not like black tea, you can replace half Kahwa leaves with half normal tea, add 1 cup milk and increase sugar as per taste.