Kahwa - all about the magic tea

“Gar firdaus, ruhe zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin ast” - these were the words by Mughal emperor Jahangir when he visited Kashmir way back in the 17th century. A place so stupendously beautiful, the person who was witnessing it instantly associated it with paradise. Now let’s talk about a beverage that equally holds the power to immediately transport you to a better place, perhaps heaven itself. The beverage is none other than Kashmiri people’s beloved Kahwa.

Kahwa is a blend of green tea leaves, Kashmiri saffron, cinnamon bark, cardamom pods, nuts and rose petals. And the best part? There is not just one way of making Kahwa. The brew can be concocted differently by adding different types of dry fruits. Some people like their brew with extra ingredients like dried cherries, apples, apricots and raisins or with pine nuts, pistachios, walnuts, almonds, cashew nuts, dates etc. These additional ingredients not only add to the texture of the brew but also renders it with richer flavours and delicious overtones.

A fascinating origin story

Let’s understand the origin of Kahwa. How did it come to be the most loved beverage of not only Kashmiris but also of people in Bangladesh, Afghanistan and other regions of Central Asia? It is interesting to note that the word “kahwa” itself has Arabic origin, which is why it is also called Arabic kahwa.

Tracing its origin further back in history, we will come to know that Kashmiris used to get their special teas from China through Tibet. It is believed that Kahwa tea leaves came to Kashmir through the notorious Spice Route, though some people say it originated in the Yarkand valley during the Kushan empire in the first and second century AD. Though its origins are still a matter of debate, today Kahwa is Kashmir’s trademark beverage and is often called the “magic tea”. Well, it makes perfect sense that heaven on earth is home to magic tea, right?

 Kashmiris and Kahwa go hand in hand

It is normal for Kashmiris to begin their day with a cup of kahwa tea. For a place that has a solid winter season, it’s the perfect drink to keep its inhabitants warm and cozy. Besides, it is abundantly healthy because basically it contains fruits, nuts, and spices in a green tea base - talk about a health potion! Kashmiri Kahwa tea has some other health benefits as well, such as:

• It improves concentration and helps with stress issues.
• It works as a fat burner and has digestive properties.
• It works as an antioxidant for your body.
• It can relieve headaches and migraine
• It maintains the fluid levels in your body.
• It is beneficial for eyesight
• It can energize your body and helps you fight lethargy.

Even the making of Kahwa has its own charm and uniqueness. It is made traditionally in ‘Samovar’ - a brass/copper kettle which has a central cavity into which you are supposed to put burning coals. Some space is left for the ingredients to warm up in the vessel and there is a nozzle to pour out the tea. Usually people drink the tea in a bronze cup, while some might prefer cups made of china clay.

All this information about Kahwa tea and don’t know how to procure some of this magic potion for yourself? Worry not, we have an exotic blend of Kahwa tea, concocted by our tea experts. Our Kahwa tea is made of Green Tea, Saffron, Almonds, Green Cardamom, Cinnamon, Cloves, and Rose Petals, a perfect blend to whisk you away to the land of ethereal beauty and joy. After all, wouldn’t it be great to feel what the Mughal emperor Jahangir felt, many centuries ago?

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