Tea is an essential part of Pakistani culture and is one of the most consumed beverages in the whole country. The infusion of simple local black tea is the most popular of all, but Masala Chai, Doodh Pati Chai and Kashmiri Chai are all equally good tea-based drinks that can be drunk at any time of day or day. night. Whatever the occasion that prompts you to want to prepare one of these infusions, celebrate a wedding or simply give yourself some energy in the morning, both the mind and the palate will derive a considerable stimulus.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Making Pakistani Black Tea
Step 1. Gather the necessary ingredients
You will need: 360 ml of water, 60 ml of whole milk, 3/4 tablespoon of black leaf tea and 1 1/2 teaspoons of granulated sugar. You can sweeten the tea to taste; if you prefer it sweeter, simply increase the amount of sugar added to each cup.
- The doses just indicated allow you to prepare a cup of tea, but it is enough to double or triple them to make it taste to more people.
- Tapal Danedar is a variety of Pakistani tea that is frequently used to make this recipe.
- If you don't have loose leaf tea, you can cut out some sachets and use the contents.
Step 2. Prepare the infusion
Boil the water in a small saucepan. When it comes to a boil, add the leaf tea. Cover the pot with the lid and let the mixture simmer over low heat for one minute or until it turns a dark orange tint.
When the tea has changed color, add the milk to the pot as well. Let it continue to simmer gently for another 1-2 minutes
Step 3. Strain and serve the tea
Pour it into a cup through a colander to collect the leaves. Pakistani black tea is ready to drink!
- If you want, you can add a pinch of cinnamon and powdered cardamom to further intensify the scent and aroma of the tea; you can pour them directly into the cup as soon as it is ready.
- At this point you can taste it and drink it as it is, if it is already sweet enough for you, or add a teaspoon and a half of sugar.
Method 2 of 4: Make Masala Chai
Step 1. Gather the necessary ingredients
To make Masala Chai (also called simply Chai), you will need: 180ml water, 2-4 crushed cardamom pods, 1-2 thin slices of fresh ginger, 1 cinnamon stick (2-3cm long), 1 star anise berry, 180 ml of milk and 1 and a half teaspoons of black tea leaves. In addition, if you wish, you can use a sweetener of your choice.
- The ideal ingredients to sweeten Masala Chai are honey or maple syrup.
- The doses just indicated allow you to prepare a cup of tea.
- Star anise is a widely used spice in Chinese cuisine. Nowadays it is also easily available in the supermarket, but if you have difficulty finding it you can also do without it.
- Crack the cardamom pods using a pestle and mortar.
Step 2. Proceed as follows to prepare the tea immediately before serving
Put the water, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon stick, and star anise in a small saucepan on the stove. Stir to mix the ingredients, then wait for the water to boil. Then reduce the heat and allow the mixture to simmer gently until it begins to emanate a strong scent. At that moment add the milk and wait another minute.
- After letting the tea simmer over a low heat, turn off the stove and let the infusion sit for two minutes.
- Strain the tea before pouring and serving it. Taste it and sweeten it to your taste.
Step 3. If you prefer to make tea in the evening and drink it for breakfast, try the following guidelines
Before going to sleep, mix the water, cardamom, cinnamon stick, and star anise (don't add the ginger yet). Bring the infusion to a boil, then cover the pot and let it sit until the next morning.
- When you wake up, add the ginger and turn the stove back on. When the tea is boiling, reduce the heat and let it simmer until it starts to smell nice.
- Mix in the remaining ingredients. Let the mixture simmer for another minute, then turn off the stove and wait a couple more minutes before enjoying the tea.
- Finally, the time has come to filter and serve the Masala Chai.
Method 3 of 4: Prepare the Doodh Pati Chai
Step 1. Gather the necessary ingredients
The name Doodh Pati Chai derives from "dhaba", snack bars (literal translation is "places along the road") where you can buy this delicious tea drink. To prepare it you will need: 360 ml of water, 240 ml of milk, 2 black tea bags, 4 cardamom pods and a sweetener of your choice. You can replace the tea bags with the one in leaves, in this case the required dose is ¾ of a tablespoon.
- The tasty flavor of Doodh Pati Chai is mainly attributed to the presence of milk. Replacing it with cream will give you a creamier version of the drink.
- The best ingredient for sweetening Doodh Pati Chai is granulated sugar.
Step 2. Mix the milk and water in a saucepan
Heat them over high heat until they start to boil, taking care to stir occasionally. When they reach a boil, add the cardamom pods, tea bags and sugar.
- Stir to mix the ingredients, then wait for the infusion to boil again.
- The longer it stays on the stove, the stronger and stronger the tea will taste.
Step 3. Filter and serve the Doodh Pati Chai
Traditionally it is drunk in a large tea cup, but you can also use a mug.
If you want, before drinking it, you can filter it by pouring it through a fine mesh strainer or into a teapot with the built-in filter
Method 4 of 4: Make Kashmiri Pink Chai (Also known as Noon Chai)
Step 1. Gather the necessary ingredients
To make this rose-colored spiced tea, you will need: 2 teaspoons of loose leaf tea from the Kashmir region, ½ teaspoon of baking soda (used to turn the drink pink), 2 crushed cardamom pods, 480 ml of water, 480 ml of whole milk and half a teaspoon of sea salt.
- If you can't find a typical Kashmiri tea, you can use one from a different source, as long as it's green tea.
- If you want, you can garnish the drink with one and a half teaspoons of chopped almonds and pistachios.
Step 2. Pour 240ml of water and tea leaves into a small pot
Bring the mixture to a boil and wait for it to become frothy, at which point add the baking soda and mix vigorously with a whisk for 10 seconds. Add the other 240ml of water, cardamom and bring the tea back to a boil. Let it boil until it turns bright red.
If you don't have a whisk, a wooden spoon or fork may suffice
Step 3. Add the milk
Adjust the heat to reduce the heat, stir in the milk, then stir the tea vigorously again until a light foam forms on the surface. Then add the salt, mix to distribute it evenly and pour the Kashmiri Pink Chai into the cup. Finally garnish it with the chopped almonds and pistachios.
