benazir's blog

Kashmiri Chai

Actually this post is easy to write because it is also very easy to make. I have seen videos on how to make this chai in particular. Chai means tea in Urdu but the Turkish people also say chai but their way of spelling it is cay with the c sounding like a ch. Obviously I have gotten away from sweet drinks as I gotten older. For those of us diabetics that would like something sweet I suggest either stevia or even add 1/4 of a tsp of agave nectar in your chai. You can also use Splenda and this has carbs so be careful. I love my chai and my coffee without any sweeteners.

One of my sister in laws makes Kashmiri Chai. Actually it is green tea that turns pink later so let me explain how it is done. Take a small pot which will hold about 3 to 4 cups of water and bring that to a rapid boil. Take a tea egg or you may have to use a strainer for after you make this tea. The tea eggs you can buy at a regular grocery store. Here in Chicago we have a Jewel. You can also try Walmart or target and see if you see them online or even try Ebay. The Kashmiri Chai leaves you have to buy at any Indian and Pakistani grocery store.

Take a tea egg and fill it with Kashmiri Chai leaves and place it in to the rapidly boiling water. Now add 4 green cardamoms in your mortar and pestle and pound until the pods open and dump this in to the pot too. This will help flavor this yummy drink. Make sure that it is like a dark red color and stir occasionally until it does.

Now Take and add 1 pinch each of baking soda and pink salt which will help to make it a dark red. When it is this color remove the tea egg or for those who does not have such a thing take a small strainer and strain the chai to remove the chai leaves in to a small mixing bowl and transfer the strained chai back to the pot you boiled your chai in. Bring this back up to boil and add 1/2 cup of milk. If this is not enough then double that to make it 1 cup and bring it back to boil again and here it should turn pink. Putting 1 pat of butter is optional to make it more creamy.

This is perfect for tea time and you know you have an option along with kawa and kali chai either with or without masala. The perfect snacks to go with these are samosa pakora far far beef or chicken puffs or even chicken rolls too. Also kachaloo Pera will be just as fantastic too along with kabab.

← Back