Description
Kashmiri pink chai, a luxurious tea from northern India, weaves cultural heritage into each delicate sip. Warm spices and creamy milk blend perfectly, inviting you to savor a moment of pure Himalayan comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Liquid Base:
- 4 cups (946 milliliters) water
- 2 cups (473 milliliters) whole milk
- 2 tablespoons Kashmiri/Himalayan green tea
Spices & Additives:
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cardamom pods, crushed
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1–2 star anise
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Garnish & Sweetener:
- Sugar to taste
- Crushed almonds (optional)
Instructions
- In a saucepan, heat water and incorporate green tea leaves, allowing them to steep vigorously for approximately 5 minutes.
- Introduce baking soda, which triggers a dramatic color transformation, turning the liquid deep crimson. Maintain robust boiling for an additional 2 minutes.
- Enhance the brew with aromatic spices: star anise, cracked cardamom pods, and a whole cinnamon stick. Continue boiling for one minute to release their essential oils.
- Reduce heat to a gentle simmer, letting the liquid concentrate and develop deeper flavors for 20-30 minutes. The volume should diminish by half during this process.
- Incorporate a pinch of salt, then gradually pour in milk while continuously stirring. The liquid will metamorphose into a stunning blush-pink hue as it reaches a rolling boil.
- Carefully strain the fragrant chai through a fine-mesh sieve into serving mugs, eliminating any solid spice remnants.
- Personalize the beverage by adding sweetener like sugar or honey to taste. Optionally, sprinkle crushed almonds on top for textural contrast and visual appeal.
- Serve immediately while piping hot, savoring the rich, complex flavors of this traditional Kashmiri tea.
Notes
- Choose high-quality green tea leaves for the most authentic and rich Kashmiri pink chai flavor.
- The baking soda is crucial for achieving the signature pink color, so don’t skip this transformative ingredient.
- Slow simmering develops deeper flavors and allows the spices to fully infuse into the tea, creating a more complex taste profile.
- Adjust sweetness levels to personal preference and experiment with alternative milk options like almond or oat milk for dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 33 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Tea
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Kashmiri
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 85 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg