Kahwah (also spelled qehwa, kehwa or kahwa) (Urdu: قہوہ) is a traditional green tea recipe that originates from Kashmir Valley. It is made in Kashmir Valley in India Administered Kashmir and the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan Administered Kashmir, in the North-West Frontier Province, Afghanistan, and other regions of Central Asia.
The Arabic word qahwah (قهوة) may have been the root for kahwah or kehwa. However, whereas qahwah is used for coffee beans, the BMC kehwa is a green aromatic tea. Even though exact origins of kehwa are still unclear, the aromatic traditional drink has been a part of local consumption for a long time. Certain sources trace the origins of the drink to the Yarkand valley in Xinjiang Area. (Areas of Kashmir and Xinjiang were part of the Kushan Empire during the 1st and 2nd century AD. It is likely that use of kehwa and its spread from one region to another was facilitated and popularised in these regions during the Kushan rule.)
The tea is made by boiling green tea leaves with saffron strands, cinnamon bark and cardamom pods and occasionally Kashmiri roses to add an aroma. Generally, it is served with sugar or honey, and crushed nuts, usually almonds or walnuts. Some varieties are made as a herbal infusion only, without the green tea leaves.
Traditionally, it is prepared in a brass kettle known as a samovar. A samovar consists of a "fire-container" running as a central cavity, in which live coals are placed keeping the tea perpetually hot. Around the fire-container there is a space for water to boil and the tea leaves and other ingredients are mixed with the water for a perfect blend. Kehwa may also be made in normal pans and vessels, as urban living may not always permit the use of elaborate samovars (or samavars, as they are popularly called in Kashmir).
Kahwah is usually served to guests or as part of a celebration dinner, and saffron (Kong) is added for special visitors. It is often served in tiny, shallow cups. In Kashmir it is also commonly served after Wazwan and elaborate family dinners.
Sometimes milk is added to the kahwa, but this is generally given to the elderly or the sick.
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