Noon Chai
KASHMIRI PINK TEA
Have you tried this amazing pink tea yet? It's like taking a sip of the beautiful Kashmir Valley. Picture yourself snuggled up with a warm cup of tea on a slightly chilly day, surrounded by lush greenery. Sounds dreamy, right?
I highly recommend using green tea leaves. For an authentic taste, I suggest using Himalayan green tea leaves. Personally, I'm a big fan of the Vahdam Brand. Give it a try and let me know what you think!
SO. WHAT MAKES THIS TEA PINK?
Baking soda!
Baking soda gives your tea a beautiful crimson color. It's true! And the best part is, you can keep this base in your fridge for up to two weeks and add it to warm milk whenever you're in the mood for a delicious cup of tea. Whether you prefer your tea sweet (like me) or salty, it's totally up to you. So go ahead and give it a try!
INGREDIENTS
FOR THE BASE
2 tbsp loose green tea leaves
⅛ tsp salt (optional)
2 cups water
1 cup ice
1 cup ice-cold water
8 cardamom pods crushed
½ tsp baking soda
FOR THE TEA -
Serves 2-3
1 cup whole milk
5 saffron strands
1/2 tbsp sugar
dry fruit and nut mixture
1/2 tbsp crushed pistachio/almonds
1/2 tbsp dried dates chopped (seeds removed)
DIRECTIONS
FOR THE BASE
In a pot, bring to a boil the 2 cups of water, green tea leaves, cardamom, and baking soda. You must continuously stir and pour this mixture with a ladle.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to stir and pour the mixture. It must reduce to half its original level.
Turn off the heat and add the ice and 1 cup of ice-cold water. Stir vigorously and pour the mixture, then turn on the heat again. You may add the optional salt at this time.
Bring this mixture to a boil and let it simmer for 10 minutes. The base is complete! You can strain it and store it for 1-2 weeks in the fridge once it cools down.
FOR THE TEA
In a separate pot, bring the milk, saffron, and sugar to a gentle simmer.
Add the pink tea base to the milk until you achieve the desired color. I recommend adding at least 1/2 cup of the base for every 1 cup of milk.
Simmer for at least 10 minutes. The longer you simmer, the better the tea will be.
Pour into cups and garnish with dried fruits. Enjoy!
