Kangra Chai

Kangra Chai

Kangra Chai

Veg Vegan

Light, golden-green tea from the GI-tagged Kangra valley — grown at altitudes between 900–1500 metres, with a delicate, floral, and mildly astringent character quite unlike Assam or Darjeeling tea. Brewed light without milk in traditional households, though milk-tea versions are equally common.

Cuisines

Himachali

Best for

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Recipe

Prep: 5 min Cook: 15 min Total: 20 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

2 cups water
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons Kangra tea leaves
2 tablespoons sugar
2 pods green cardamom, crushed
1 inch cinnamon stick
1 inch fresh ginger, sliced
1 bay leaf
1 pinch salt

Instructions

  1. 1 In a saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil.
  2. 2 Add the Kangra tea leaves, crushed green cardamom, cinnamon stick, sliced ginger, bay leaf, and a pinch of salt to the boiling water.
  3. 3 Allow the mixture to simmer on low heat for about 5 minutes to let the flavors infuse.
  4. 4 Add 1 cup of milk and 2 tablespoons of sugar to the saucepan.
  5. 5 Bring the mixture to a gentle boil again, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for another 5 minutes.
  6. 6 Strain the tea into cups using a fine mesh strainer to remove the tea leaves and spices.
  7. 7 Serve hot and enjoy the aromatic flavors of Kangra Chai.

Tips

Adjust the amount of sugar and milk to your taste preference. For a stronger flavor, let the spices steep longer.