Delicious Kashmiri drinks no food lover should ever miss

The breathtaking beauty of Kashmir is a sight to behold-the snow capped mountains, magnificent Dal Lake, welcoming Shikaras, amber coloured Chinar leaves and obviously-mouthwatering Kashmiri cuisine! Full of regional produce and ingredients, the food of Kashmir is a delight for foodies. Be it the Mutton Rogan Josh, Dum Aloo, Haak, Paneer Chaman, Nadroo Yakhni, et cetera—they are all a gateway to the food heaven.

Apart from the wholesome dishes, there are many Kashmiri drinks that are equally tasty and flavoursome. These drinks use a lot of local ingredients and help in digestion and protection against the severe winter cold. Here is a look at 5 Kashmiri drinks you must try.

Kahwa is a Kashmiri tea flavoured with cinnamon, cardamom, and saffron. It is a great drink to sip on cold winter days but can be had throughout the year. Kahwa is traditionally prepared in a brass kettle known as “samovar”. It is generally served with a sprinkling of chopped dry fruits like almonds, pistachios, or cashew nuts, almonds being the most popular.

Noon Chai or Sheer Chai is a pink coloured Kashmiri tea made with gunpowder tea (green tea leaves rolled into small balls), milk, sea salt and baking soda. It is often served with fruits and nuts. Kashmiris usually drink Noon Chai in the morning and in the afternoon with the traditional Naan bread.

Locally known as “Babribeoul Treish”, Kand Sharbat is made during the month of Ramadan in all Kashmiri homes. It is one of the first drinks consumed while breaking fast. Its main cooling ingredient is the Basil seeds, which are locally known as ‘sabza’ seeds or ‘babri beol’. It is prepared by soaking basil seeds in water for one to two hours. Once the seeds turn gummy, milk with raisin, small slices of, or grated, dried coconut, a hint of sugar and few drops of honey are mixed with it. It is flavoured with few cardamom pods and rose syrup.

Kashmir is known for its saffron. The saffron is added to milk to prepare Kesar Doodh which is delicious and extremely nutritious. It is good for prevention against cold, promotes memory retention, relieves menstrual cramps, good for the heart and many more.

Kashmiri afternoon meals are never complete without a glass of Lassi. In many homes, the afternoon ritual in summer is to gather some cool fresh water from the pond and add it to yoghurt and churn them together to make Lassi for everyone. In winters, water is warmed up a bit before adding it to the yoghurt. Lassi has several health benefits and is considered necessary after eating spicy food.