Description
Kashmiri Pink Chai, also known as Noon Tea, is a traditional tea from Kashmir characterized by its distinctive pink hue and rich, aromatic flavor. Made by simmering green tea with baking soda, spices, and whole milk, this comforting beverage is sweetened with sugar or honey and optionally garnished with crushed nuts. Its unique preparation and vibrant color make it a delightful and warming tea experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Tea Base
- 4 cups Water
- 2 tbsp Kashmiri/Himalayan green tea or other green tea
- 1/2 tsp Baking soda
- 1–2 Star anise
- 2 Cardamom pods, crushed
- 1 Cinnamon stick
- 1/4 tsp Salt
Milk & Sweetener
- 2 cups Whole milk
- Sugar or honey to taste
Garnish (Optional)
- Crushed nuts (e.g., almonds or pistachios)
Instructions
- Boil the Tea: Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan, then add 2 tablespoons of Kashmiri or Himalayan green tea. Boil the mixture for about 5 minutes to extract the flavors.
- Add Baking Soda: Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda carefully. The water will change to a deep red color. Continue boiling for another 2 minutes to develop the characteristic tea color and flavor.
- Add Spices: Add 1-2 star anise, 2 crushed cardamom pods, and 1 cinnamon stick to the boiling tea. Boil the mixture for an additional minute to infuse the spices.
- Simmer the Tea: Reduce the heat to low and let the tea simmer gently for 20-30 minutes, allowing the liquid to reduce to about half to intensify the flavor and deepen the color.
- Add Salt: Stir in 1/4 teaspoon of salt evenly into the tea to balance the flavors.
- Incorporate Milk: Pour in 2 cups of whole milk and increase the heat to bring the tea to a boil. Stir constantly to prevent the milk from burning. As it boils, the tea will turn a beautiful pink color.
- Strain and Serve: Once the chai reaches the pink hue, remove the pan from heat and strain the tea to remove spices and tea leaves. Sweeten with sugar or honey according to your taste.
- Garnish and Enjoy: Optionally, garnish with crushed nuts like almonds or pistachios and serve hot for a comforting and unique tea experience.
Notes
- Use whole milk for the best color and creaminess; skim or low-fat milk may not produce the same pink hue.
- The baking soda is essential to change the tea’s color to pink; do not omit it.
- Adjust sugar or honey to your preferred sweetness level.
- Simmering time can be adjusted depending on how strong and concentrated you want your tea.
- Optionally, you can experiment with other nuts like pistachios for garnish to add texture and flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Boiling and Simmering
- Cuisine: Kashmiri
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approx. 240 ml)
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
Keywords: Kashmiri Pink Chai, Noon Tea, Kashmiri tea, pink tea recipe, traditional Kashmiri beverage, aromatic tea, spiced tea
