Pakistan – Kashmiri Gulabi Chai (Pink Tea)

by Dahiza Umar

INTRODUCTION TO THE DISH

This is the drink as comparative to the national drink, which is so famous and popular to get the taste and amazing sip to relish the amazing taste of it is ”TEA”. Tea is not wrong to said that is a national drink or more popular than national drink that is Sugar cane juice. There are just two or three ingredients used to make any tea but have many method of cooking like according to the cuisine, taste of people and evolution according to the national flavors.

VARIETIES OF TEA

• Green tea
• Pink tea
• Kashmiri tea
• Black tea
• Cardamom tea
• Mix tea
• Masala tea
• Salty tea
• Ginger tea and many many more

KASHMIRI TEA

This dish is originated from the region Kashmir and the special herb known as Kashmiri tea is used to make this unique recipe the amazing pink colored tea and it is a long procedure to make this tea because proper color from the herb is released by adding cold water than the amazing pink color is released out.

In winters as the temperature reaches below 2 to 3 degrees in Pakistan many stalls are seen road sides having hot cup of pink tea in it as a flavors of kahsmir is seen in the Punjab region of Pakistan. Wedding in winters has the main dish must included with this tea to warmth and cozy the body with amazing taste and delish color.

To make this dish more flavorful and unique many dried fruits is added to make it more relish and which give the warmth to the body by eating the dry fruits dipped in the pink tea.

HISTORY

This is the recipe came into the cuisine of Muslims when British rule over the Indian subcontinent they introduc the dish to the people of Indian subcontinent and than after the division this drink rule over all the drinks either national drink any sweet drink of some of the favorites.

So it is not wrong to said that this dish is evolved from the British cuisine and originated from Indian Subcontinent.

TIME REQUIRED

• Preparation time : 5 minutes
• Cooking time : 30 minutes
• Total time : 40 minutes

NUTRITIONAL ASPECTS

• 115 calories
• 9 grams of fat
• 35 mg cholesterol
• 12 grams carbohydrates
• 7 grams sugars
• 9 grams protein

INGREDIENTS

• Kashmiri tea herb dried : 2 tbsp
• Milk : 2 cups
• Water : 4 cups
• Sugar : 4 tbsp
• Green cardamom powder : 1 tbsp
• Star anise : 1
• Cinnamon stick : 1
• Clove : 2
• Almonds : 4btsp
• Cashew : 4tbsp
• Pistachio : 4 tbsp

METHOD OF COOKING

• In a pot add 2 cups of water with 2 tbsp of kashmiri herb dried and let it cooked for 10 minutes on high to medium flame when 2 cup reduces to 1 cup add 1 cup of cold water.
• Than cooked it on high flame and than when tea reduces to one cup add another cup of cold water and cook.
• Now its time to add milk to the tea and when you add milk pink color appeared.
• Now let it cook for 10 minutes by adding all other ingredients to it.
• After 10 to 15 minutes tea is ready and serve it with dried fruits.
• Enjoy!