Description
Kashmiri pink delight tea weaves aromatic magic from saffron-kissed milk and delicate rose petals. Rich Himalayan flavors dance gracefully, inviting you to savor Kashmir’s intimate brewing tradition in one elegant, warm cup.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups (946 ml) water
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) Kashmiri/Himalayan green tea or other green tea
- 2 cups (473 ml) whole milk
Spices and Aromatics:
- 1–2 star anise
- 2 cardamom pods, crushed
- 1 cinnamon stick
Additives and Garnish:
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) salt
- Sugar or honey to taste
- Crushed nuts like almonds or pistachios for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Heat water in a saucepan, preparing for a vibrant Kashmiri tea experience.
- Incorporate green tea leaves and allow them to meld with the boiling water, releasing their essence for several minutes.
- Sprinkle baking soda into the liquid, witnessing a dramatic color transformation to a deep crimson hue.
- Gently introduce aromatic spices – star anise, cardamom, and cinnamon – infusing the brew with complex layers of flavor.
- Reduce temperature and let the mixture gently simmer, concentrating its rich profile and diminishing volume by half.
- Season the tea with a delicate touch of salt, enhancing the overall taste complexity.
- Pour whole milk into the spice-infused liquid, carefully raising the temperature while continuously stirring to prevent scorching.
- Watch as the tea evolves into a mesmerizing pink shade, signaling its readiness.
- Remove from heat and strain the tea through a fine mesh, capturing the robust spices and tea leaves.
- Personalize the beverage with your preferred sweetener – sugar or honey – and optionally crown with a sprinkle of crushed nuts for textural contrast.
Notes
- This unique Kashmiri tea requires patience and precise timing to achieve its signature pink hue and complex flavor profile.
- Baking soda plays a crucial role in transforming the tea’s color from green to deep red, creating a chemical reaction that’s key to the recipe’s success.
- Slow simmering for 20-30 minutes concentrates the tea’s flavors, allowing the spices to fully infuse and develop a rich, aromatic taste.
- The addition of whole milk is what creates the distinctive pink color, making this tea a visual and gustatory delight.
- Crushing cardamom pods and using whole spices releases deeper, more intense flavors compared to ground spices.
- Straining the tea removes bitter tea leaves and whole spices, ensuring a smooth and refined drinking experience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Drinks, Cocktails
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Kashmiri
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg