Kahwah
Encyclopedia
Kahwah is a traditional green tea
recipe in Pakistan
, Afghanistan
, and the Kashmir Valley. It is made in the Kashmir Valley of India
and Pakistan
, the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan
, in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) and other provinces in Pakistan, Afghanistan
, and other regions of Central Asia
. The Kashmiri Pandit
migrants living in the North Indian Plains, particularly in the urban agglomeration of Delhi
, have contributed to its popularity among non-Kashmiri Indians.
Even though exact origins of kehwa are still unclear, most Kashmiris believe that the aromatic traditional drink kehwa dates back to times immemorial & has been a part of local consumption for ages. Certain sources also trace the origins of the drink to the Yarkand valley in Xinjiang
Area (Areas of Kashmir & Xinjiang were part of the Kushan Empire during the 1st & 2nd century AD. It is likely that use of kehwa & its spread from one region to another was facilitated & popularised in these regions during the Kushan rule)
strands, cinnamon
bark and cardamom
pods & occasionally Kashmiri roses to add a great aroma. Generally, it is served with sugar
or honey
, and crushed nuts, usually almonds or walnuts. Some varieties are made as a herbal infusion only, without the green tea leaves.
Traditionally, Kahwah or Kehwa is prepared in a brass kettle known as a samovar
.
A samovar consists of a "fire-container" running as a central cavity, in which live coals are placed keeping the tea perpetually hot. Around the fire-container there is a space for water to boil and the tealeaves and other ingredients are mixed with the water for a perfect blend. Kehwa may also be made in normal pans and vessels, as modern day urban living may not always permit the use of elaborate samovars (or samavars, as they are popularly called in Kashmir)
Kahwah is usually served to guests or as part of a celebration dinner, and Saffron
(Kong) is added to the Kehwa for special visitors. It is often served in tiny, shallow cups. Kehwa in Kashmir is also commonly served after Wazwan
and elaborate family dinners.
Sometimes milk is added to the kahwa, but this is generally given to the elderly or the sick.
----
Ingredients:
Kashmiri green tea 4 tsps
saffron 2-4 strands
Crushed Green cardamom pods 2
Blanched and chopped Almonds 8
Cinnamon 1 stick
Cloves 1-2
Sugar 2 tbsps or to taste
Green tea
Green tea is made solely from the leaves of Camellia sinensis that have undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Green tea originates from China and has become associated with many cultures throughout Asia. It has recently become more widespread in the West, where black tea is traditionally...
recipe in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, and the Kashmir Valley. It is made in the Kashmir Valley of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) and other provinces in Pakistan, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, and other regions of Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
. The Kashmiri Pandit
Kashmiri Pandit
The Kashmiri Pandits are a Hindu Brahmin community originating from Kashmir, a mountainous region in South Asia.-Background:The Hindu caste system of the region was influenced by the influx of Buddhism from the time of Asoka, around the third century BCE, and a consequence of this was that the...
migrants living in the North Indian Plains, particularly in the urban agglomeration of Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, have contributed to its popularity among non-Kashmiri Indians.
Origins
The Arabic word qahwah (قهوة) may have been the root for kahwah or kehwa. However, whereas qahwah is used for coffee beans, the BMC kehwa is a green aromatic tea.Even though exact origins of kehwa are still unclear, most Kashmiris believe that the aromatic traditional drink kehwa dates back to times immemorial & has been a part of local consumption for ages. Certain sources also trace the origins of the drink to the Yarkand valley in Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
Area (Areas of Kashmir & Xinjiang were part of the Kushan Empire during the 1st & 2nd century AD. It is likely that use of kehwa & its spread from one region to another was facilitated & popularised in these regions during the Kushan rule)
Preparation
The tea is made by boiling green tea leaves with saffronSaffron
Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the saffron crocus. Crocus is a genus in the family Iridaceae. Each saffron crocus grows to and bears up to four flowers, each with three vivid crimson stigmas, which are each the distal end of a carpel...
strands, cinnamon
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several trees from the genus Cinnamomum that is used in both sweet and savoury foods...
bark and cardamom
Cardamom
Cardamom refers to several plants of the genera Elettaria and Amomum in the ginger family Zingiberaceae. Both genera are native to India and Bhutan; they are recognised by their small seed pod, triangular in cross-section and spindle-shaped, with a thin papery outer shell and small black seeds...
pods & occasionally Kashmiri roses to add a great aroma. Generally, it is served with sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
or honey
Honey
Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans...
, and crushed nuts, usually almonds or walnuts. Some varieties are made as a herbal infusion only, without the green tea leaves.
Traditionally, Kahwah or Kehwa is prepared in a brass kettle known as a samovar
Samovar
A samovar is a heated metal container traditionally used to heat and boil water in and around Russia, as well as in other Central, South-Eastern, Eastern European countries,Kashmir and in the Middle-East...
.
A samovar consists of a "fire-container" running as a central cavity, in which live coals are placed keeping the tea perpetually hot. Around the fire-container there is a space for water to boil and the tealeaves and other ingredients are mixed with the water for a perfect blend. Kehwa may also be made in normal pans and vessels, as modern day urban living may not always permit the use of elaborate samovars (or samavars, as they are popularly called in Kashmir)
Kahwah is usually served to guests or as part of a celebration dinner, and Saffron
Saffron
Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the saffron crocus. Crocus is a genus in the family Iridaceae. Each saffron crocus grows to and bears up to four flowers, each with three vivid crimson stigmas, which are each the distal end of a carpel...
(Kong) is added to the Kehwa for special visitors. It is often served in tiny, shallow cups. Kehwa in Kashmir is also commonly served after Wazwan
Wazwan
Wazwan is a multi-course meal in Kashmiri cuisine, the preparation of which is considered an art and a point of pride in Kashmiri culture and identity. Almost all the dishes are meat-based . It is popular throughout Kashmir and served internationally at Kashmiri food...
and elaborate family dinners.
Sometimes milk is added to the kahwa, but this is generally given to the elderly or the sick.
----
Ingredients:
Kashmiri green tea 4 tsps
saffron 2-4 strands
Crushed Green cardamom pods 2
Blanched and chopped Almonds 8
Cinnamon 1 stick
Cloves 1-2
Sugar 2 tbsps or to taste