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Cozy Pink Kashmiri Chai

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4.1 from 82 reviews

Kashmiri Pink Chai is a traditional Kashmiri tea known for its unique creamy texture and beautiful pink hue, achieved through a careful slow-brewing process with green tea leaves, baking soda, and whole milk. This beverage offers a balanced salty-sweet flavor, enhanced by fragrant cardamom pods and garnished with delicate rose petals and crushed pistachios, making it a soothing and aromatic drink perfect for any time of day.

Ingredients

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Tea Base

  • 2 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon green tea leaves (loose leaf)
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 4 cardamom pods, lightly crushed

Additional Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 2 cups cold water (added in stages)
  • 2 teaspoons sugar (optional)

Garnish

  • 1 tablespoon crushed pistachios
  • 1 teaspoon dried rose petals

Instructions

  1. Boil Tea Base: Combine 2 cups water, 1 tablespoon green tea leaves, and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda in a heavy saucepan. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes to extract deep flavors.
  2. First Cold Water Addition and Whisking: Add 1 cup of cold water to the saucepan and whisk vigorously to incorporate air and encourage the signature pink color to develop.
  3. Second Simmer and Cold Water Addition: Simmer the tea for 5 minutes, then add the remaining 1 cup of cold water. Whisk again thoroughly and simmer for an additional 10 minutes to enhance the color and flavor concentration.
  4. Add Milk and Cardamom: Pour in 2 cups whole milk along with 4 lightly crushed cardamom pods. Simmer gently while stirring continuously until the tea achieves a beautiful pink tint. Taste and add 2 teaspoons sugar if desired, stirring to dissolve.
  5. Strain the Tea: Pour the pink chai through a fine mesh strainer into serving cups to remove the tea leaves and cardamom pods, ensuring a smooth, residue-free beverage.
  6. Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle each cup with crushed pistachios and dried rose petals for an elegant presentation and added aroma. Serve hot for the best experience.

Notes

  • Use traditional loose-leaf green tea for the best authentic flavor and pink color development.
  • Whisking vigorously after adding cold water is essential to achieve the distinctive pink hue.
  • Strain the chai well to avoid any gritty residue or coarse particles in the final drink.
  • Sugar is optional; adjust sweetness according to preference or omit for a more traditional salty-sweet balance.

Find it online: https://yumfoodusa.com/cozy-pink-kashmiri-chai/