Kashmiri Kahwa: The Saffron Tea, How It Is Made and Where to Drink It
Golden green tea with saffron, cardamom, cinnamon and almonds, poured from a samovar. What goes into kahwa, how to brew it at home and how to buy a good mix.
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Quick answerKahwa is Kashmir's fragrant green tea brewed with saffron, cardamom, cinnamon and almonds, usually sweetened with sugar or honey. It is served after meals and to guests, traditionally from a copper samovar. Unlike noon chai, it is sweet, golden and made without milk.
If noon chai is Kashmir's everyday tea, kahwa is its welcome. Arrive at a houseboat, finish a wazwan or warm up after a snowy day in Gulmarg, and someone will hand you a small cup of golden, fragrant kahwa. It is the taste most visitors take home.
What goes into kahwa
- Green tea leaves
- Saffron threads, ideally Kashmiri. See our saffron guide.
- Cardamom and cinnamon
- Almonds, sliced, sometimes with walnuts
- Sugar or honey, to taste
The samovar
Traditionally, kahwa is brewed in a samovar, an engraved copper urn with a central chamber for hot coals, keeping the tea warm for hours. It is poured into small cups, sometimes metal ones called khos. Fine samovars from Srinagar's coppersmiths are prized. See our handicrafts guide.
Make it at home (serves 2)
- Boil two cups of water with a small cinnamon stick and two crushed cardamom pods for 3–4 minutes.
- Add a few saffron threads and simmer for a minute.
- Turn off the heat, add a teaspoon of green tea leaves and steep for 2 minutes.
- Strain, sweeten and top with sliced almonds.
Buying kahwa
- Ready kahwa mixes are sold in Srinagar markets and by shikara vendors.
- Check the saffron is real (deep red threads), or buy saffron separately from a GI-certified seller.
- Choose sealed packs with clear ingredient lists.
Taste it on your trip
Every houseboat serves kahwa, but a cup by the Dal at sunset is something else. Our packages include houseboat stays with kahwa on arrival; see the 3 nights 4 days package or request a plan through Get My Travel Plan.
Plan the rest of your Kashmir trip
- Kashmiri Breads: Kashmiris buy fresh bread twice a day. Girda, lavasa, kulcha, bakarkhani, sheermal and tsochvoru: what each one is, when it is eaten and how to order.
- Shikara Vendors on Dal Lake: Floating shops will paddle up to your shikara selling kahwa, saffron, flowers, fruit, jewellery and crafts.
- Kashmiri Wazwan: A wedding-sized banquet of slow-cooked lamb, shared from a copper platter.
Frequently asked questions
What is Kashmiri kahwa made of?
Green tea, saffron, cardamom, cinnamon and almonds, usually sweetened with sugar or honey.
What is the difference between kahwa and noon chai?
Kahwa is sweet, golden and made without milk; noon chai is salty, pink and made with milk.
Is kahwa good in winter?
Yes. It is especially popular in winter and after rich meals.
Still have questions about your Kashmir trip?
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