Having watched Mission Kashmir Starring Hrithik Roshan and Pretty Zinta one can simply relate to this marvellous beverage served in Kashmir- the Kahwa. What exactly does Kahwa mean? I tell you “Kahweh” means with 11 ingredients. Of course, it tells us that this beverage is made out of 11 things that are put in together. With its roots from Afghanistan, no one knows where from this tea landed in Kashmir valley, setting its place high in its traditions.
Come on to look What and how ingredients are set in this wonderful drink.
11 things used in Kahwa Preparation:
- Green Tea Leaves
- Cinnamon
- Cardamom Pods
- Saffron
- Dried and crushed Rose Petals
- Chopped Almonds
- Chopped Walnuts
- Honey, Sugar to taste
- Milk (some times if we intend to make dod kahwa)
- Water
The ingredients stated above may be in powdered form if you have purchased powdered Kahwa from the market (Yet, don’t expect the seller to put along honey, sugar, milk and water too).
The traditional Kashmiri way of preparing Kahwa:
Marriages are the occasions when Kahwa preparations can be seen in bulk. The brides family serves their relatives with simple Kahwa while the Grooms procession is served with What is called “Doadi Kahwa”.
Traditional copper kettle known as Samovar is used and it has a long central pipe that is connected to the hollow base of the vessel. The base lies below the partition where all the ingredients are put in.
The central pipe is filled with burning coal. In the cooking portion, cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks, green tea leaves, nuts, saffron strands and the sugar are put along with water. The contents are boiled hard till the spices infuse their valour and aroma in the water.
However, to reduce the effort, nowadays cardamon pods, cinnamon sticks along with green tea leaves are boiled on a gas stove in some pan. This concentrated solution is then placed in the cooking portion of Samovar adding more water to it along with the crushed rose petals. Sugar is served in individual sugar pots with spoons to stir it. Nuts are placed in the empty cups upon which the solution is poured. Later single saffron strands are placed in each cup to be served. However, those who are to consumers need to add sugar according to their taste.
Normally, people add powdered pepper in the solution too, adding a few cloves to the mixture as well.
Now let me make you aware of what Kahwa, the “Barat”- grooms procession is served with.
Same as the simple Kahwa is prepared in the Samovar, Dode kahwa is prepared in that way too. Dode means milk, so in place of water, Milk is used and boiled hard. Also, saffron is not placed in the milk and then boiled. Instead, it is put inside the cups. Care must be taken not to place ingredients into the milk directly. As all the elements of Kahwa need to dispense their valour and smell, all these need to be boiled in a few amounts of water. Later the solution obtained needs to be added to the milk.
Preparing Kahwa from the powders available in the market is very easy. Just take the powder at the tip of a spoon, if you are to prepare for 5-6 people. Boil the contents and add the nuts. Serve and enjoy.
What you need to keep in mind is that the powdered Kahwa ingredients come with a strong flavour. Don’t use much.
Let us move on to look for the benefits of Kahwa consumption.
- Green tea used in preparation is highly beneficial for the digestive system. It is known to ease constipation.
- Kahwa helps us by improvising the metabolism.
- Kahwa helps in losing fat. So fitness freaks must give it a go.
- It prevents from many heart diseases by simply preventing the cholesterol deposition in nerves.
- It reduces blood pressure levels, reduces inflammation by aiding fat-breakdown.
- Gives a boost to one’s immunity- thus helping to fight infections.
- It fights the cell damage that is done by free radical generation. This slows down the process of ageing.
- Green tea damages the action of heavy metals which otherwise is known to cause brain cell damage.
- Antioxidants in this beverage balance the growth and death of cells.
- Kahwa reduces the risk of Prostate Cancers.
- It moreover prevents bone density keeping bones stronger.
- It helps fight cold, cough, and fever issues- complete antimicrobial action I say.
- If not consumed with sugar, the anti-oxidants present in Kahwa helps in bringing down the Blood Sugar levels.
