Field notes from the Muzafrabad, Kashmir, late January
The bus door sighed open and a rush of pine‑scented air filled my lungs. In the small Kashmiri
village of Muzafrabad, the snow looked like sifted atta and every second shop kept a brass samavar humming. Inside the kettle, the alchemy was in motion: green tea leaves, salt, a pinch of Handi baking soda turning the brew a curious shade of ocean‑blue before milk shifted it to rose quartz.
The shopkeeper, Ashraf, poured me a clay cup. “This colour,” he said, “is winter’s blush.” He cracked a smile, sprinkled crushed pistachios on the foam, and handed it over. One sip -creamy, lightly salty, lightly sweet -and the cold in my bones retreated.
From Mountain Ritual to Metro Café
Handi’s Kashmiri Pink Tea Jar scoops that valley ritual into an easy, shelf‑stable blend. No trekking boots required. Yet the lineage stays intact: high‑elevation green tea, sun‑dried rose petals, a whisper of cardamom. Cafés in Toronto have started foaming it into ‘Noon‑Chai Lattes,’ garnished with edible gold dust. Same soul, different skyline.
The Science Behind the Blush
Tea polyphenols + altitude‑grown sodium = blue. Add milk (protein + lactose) and watch the pH dance into pink. Grandmas did it long before lab coats explained it.
Brew It Your Way
- Traditional Samavar Style – Simmer 2 tsp Handi Pink Tea with 2 cups water for 10 min. Add a smidge of baking soda, watch it turn blue. Pour in 2 cups cold water, boil again. Finish with milk, a pinch of salt, and crushed nuts.
- Iced Noon‑Chai Latte – Brew strong tea, chill, shake with oat milk and a dash of maple syrup. Instagram will thank you.
- Peshawari Green Reset – Swap pink for Handi Peshawari Green Tea when you crave something lighter. Its grassy notes cleanse the palate after heavy barbecue.
Story in a Cup: Legends say pink tea warmed Mughal caravans crossing these passes. Today it warms students pulling all‑nighters and new parents pacing nursery floors. Same comfort, new chapters.
Retailers: stock both Handi Pink and Peshawari Green side by side -the blush and the cleanse. They move fast in winter, faster during Ramadan suhoor.
