How to brew the perfect saffron kahwa
Kahwa is Kashmir in a cup: green tea, saffron, crushed almonds, a little cinnamon, and honey if you like. Every family in the valley has its own ratio — here is ours.
What you need (per cup)
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp green tea leaves
- 8–10 saffron threads (Lacha grade is perfect here)
- 2 almonds, crushed
- 1 small cinnamon stick
- Honey or sugar to taste
The method
- Bring the water to a gentle simmer with the cinnamon and saffron. Let it bubble for two minutes — the water turns a deep gold.
- Add the green tea and take the pot off the heat. Steep for exactly two minutes; any longer and the tea turns bitter.
- Strain into cups, add the crushed almonds, and sweeten to taste.
The saffron goes in early, not at the end — it needs those two minutes of simmering to release its colour and aroma fully. That's the one thing most people get wrong.
Enjoy it hot, preferably with a view of snow on the mountains.