In Kashmir, 바카라�Nun Chai' And 바카라�Kehwa바카라� Are More Than Beverages

At a time when it is difficult to enjoy even a sip of hot tea in sweltering Delhi heat, Kashmir is a perfect place to enjoy cups of 바카라�chai바카라�, courtesy Kashmir바카라�s cool environment and pleasant weather. 
 
Kashmir has always been unique. Be the region바카라�s food, culture or language바카라�a place tucked deep inside Himalayas has always been unique in every respect. The region바카라�s uniqueness has also blended its taste in a different way, which is a perfect match to its weather and topography.

In an age, when world is dynamic, Kashmir runs at its own pace, which many find sluggish. But it keeps moving on, despite the region caught in an unending political turbulence.

Kashmir바카라�s beverages too are unique with different aroma and taste where one only finds, 바카라�Kashmiriyat바카라� 바카라�love and affection. The people of Kashmir are considered connoisseurs of beverages, particularly 바카라�Nun Chai바카라� and 바카라�Kehwa바카라�. 바카라�Nun Chai바카라� or pink colored Kashmiri tea is made from tea leaves, milk, salt and baking soda. 바카라�Nun chai바카라� means salt tea. Majority of Kashmiris drink 바카라�Nun Chai바카라� at breakfast and during evening. It is relished with 바카라�choet바카라� (bread), tschewoer (bagel) or soeth.
 
Similarly, 바카라�Kehwa바카라� is also relished in Kashmir, and over the years it has become synonymous with the region. The classic Kashmiri beverage is made with a blend of cardamom, sugar, cinnamon, saffron and pecks of almonds or walnuts. Many even add honey instead of sugar to this beverage for health gains.
 
Both the beverages are traditionally made in huge copper kettles, known as 바카라�Samovars바카라�. However, over the years 바카라�Samovars바카라� are found only in large congregations or occasions including weddings, deaths, birth or any familial gatherings. However, the fast-paced life has not held some families, particularly in rural areas to prepare 바카라�Nun Chai바카라� and 바카라�Kehwa바카라� in 바카라�Samovars바카라�.
 
In Kashmir, these two beverages also reflect the mood of the occasions. For instance, if there is an occasion of marriage, guests are served with 바카라�Kehwa바카라�. At the mourning or funerals which have been unending in Kashmir since 90바카라�s, trays with cups of 바카라�Nun Chai바카라� can be seen going around.
 
The beverages particularly 바카라�Kehwa바카라� has got some innovations with people blending it with milk. 바카라�Doodh Kehwa바카라� (milk Kehwa) is served to first time guests as mark of respect, usually on occasions of marriage ceremonies. In majority of the Kashmiri households 바카라�Shangri Kehwa바카라� containing liquorice root is given if one catches cold, catarrh or sore throat. 
 
바카라�Nun Chai바카라� is said to have originated in Kashmir, when its only connection with the rest of the world was through Silk Route. Many historians believe Kashmir바카라�s 바카라�Nun Chai바카라� has Yarkand connection, the city in Turkistan. A similar kind of beverage known as 바카라�Atkan chai바카라� is made with salt, milk and butter in the region.
 
Some link Kashmir바카라�s connection to Turkistan with the region바카라�s king Rinchan Shah embracing Islam at the hands of Sayed Sharafuddin Shah from Kashgar, Turkestan. Rinchan Shah after reverting to Islam was named Sultan Saddruddin Shah.
 
The beverages of Kashmir also find a way into its spirituality. In Kashmir, 바카라�Samovars바카라� or kettles of 바카라�Nun Chai바카라� or 바카라�Kehwa바카라� can be seen brewing at its shrines and khanqahs.  At most of these shrines on 11th day as per Islamic calendar, cups of 바카라�Nun Chai바카라� with flecks of coconut and Kashmiri bread are relished by the devotees. There have also been instances in the past where many 바카라�peers바카라� (seers) or qalandars also used to drink several cups of 바카라�Nun Chai바카라�. 
 
The 바카라�Samovars바카라� brewing with 바카라�Nun Chai바카라� have also found a way into gatherings of 바카라�sufi music바카라�. All night people would listen to songs praising Creator over cups of 바카라�Nun Chai바카라�.
 
However, this tradition was severely hampered during the 90바카라�s when guns rattled in the Valley. After a routine of crackdowns and encounters, such occasions have become a rarity and now uncommon in Kashmir.
 
The love of Kashmiris for 바카라�Nun Chai바카라� is such that usually after coming from outside to the homeland especially via road, the first preference is to relish with 바카라�Nun Chai바카라�. Realizing this appetite for 바카라�Nun Chai바카라�, a long chain of hotels along Srinagar-Jammu highway serve 바카라�Nun Chai바카라� to quench this thirst of Kashmiris.
  
바카라�Chai바카라� in Kashmir has also found its way into its politics. The term 바카라�Chai바카라� is often used to cool tempers in Kashmir or sometimes to reconcile or simply to keep hopes spirited. Many a time, politicians offer 바카라�Kehwa바카라� at functions to penmen and lensmen simply to reflect their Kashmiri credentials. However, at times the gestures have turned wayward.
 
One such occasion was in 2016, when the then Chief Minister of J&K Mehbooba Mufti after being bamboozled by hard-hitting questions by journalists, was left fuming. Later, agitated Mufti seemed to have realised her blunder and tried to pacify the situation saying: 바카라�waen chayeew chai cupah (now let바카라�s have a cup of tea).
 
In 2010, Alana Hunt an Australian writer, while on a trip to Kashmir, felt pained by the region바카라�s turmoil. She went on to write about the region through her memoir 바카라�Cups of Nun Chai바카라�.  
 
During 90바카라�s, when militancy was at its peak in Kashmir, purchasing more morning bread for 바카라�Nun Chai바카라� meant the host is having militants at his home. Many a time, a host would give an impression that he has 바카라�mehmaan바카라� (guests) at home.
 
바카라�Chai바카라� in Kashmir also means money, whether one is forced to give it or simply willing to give some bucks out of happiness. On occasions such as birth, buying a new car, house or any big accessory, a person offers 바카라�chai바카라� to a worker or helper. 

The aroma of 바카라�Kehwa바카라� in Kashmir is best felt through 바카라�shirmaals바카라� (special oven made crispy bread). 바카라�Nun Chai바카라� lovers' delight is Kashmir 바카라�kulcha바카라�. In Kashmir바카라�s north belt, particularly Baramulla is considered the best place to buy mouth-watering 바카라�kulchas바카라� which has some best making bakers in the business. There are also parts of downtown Srinagar, which have got expertise in making this Kashmiri 바카라�kulcha바카라�.
 
The appetite for best bread has also given some names to bakers inspired from Bollywood. One such famous name in Kashmir is 바카라�Hema Malini바카라�s Shirmaal바카라�, the shop in south Kashmir바카라�s Pampore. The place is also famous for its saffron laden karewas.
 
In Bollywood 바카라�Kehwa바카라� is also showcased to reflect Kashmir. The latest was in Vishaal Bhardwaj바카라�s 바카라�Haider바카라�.
 
바카라�Nun Chai바카라� is considered Kashmir바카라�s very own, dating back to centuries. Historically, Kashmir before accession to India would use 바카라�macheran바카라� (herbal carrot like ingredient) to prepare 바카라�Nun Chai바카라� instead of now used tea leaves from north east Assam or Darjeeling.
 
바카라�It was until 1955 that Kashmiris, particularly villagers, used to drink macheran chai,바카라� reminisces Kashmiri satirist and poet Zareef Ahmad Zareef.
 
바카라�Macheran chai바카라�, Zareef said. would keep blood thin during harsh Kashmir winters and prevent paralysis.
 
Kashmiris after having sumptuous 바카라�Wazwaan바카라� meal gulp cups of 바카라�Nun Chai바카라� to digest the volumes of meat.
 
Dr Basharat Yousuf, faculty at Department of Food Science And Technology, says 바카라�Nun Chai바카라� has anti-oxidants and it stimulates nervous system.
 
Earlier, Kashmiris used to mostly use mountain salt or Pakistani salt to prepare 바카라�Nun Chai바카라�. However, after 바카라�salt drought바카라� in Kashmir during 1947 to 1952, sea salt from the mainland India was used in the tea.
 
In 2013, a study by International Journal of Case Reports and Images, said that Kashmiris love to drink 바카라�Nun Chai바카라�, since it is known to have digestive properties because of the sodium bicarbonate content. However, they cautioned that high salt concentration in 바카라�Nun Chai바카라� could increase the risk of gastric cancer.

However, throwing caution to the winds, Kashmiris relish 바카라�Nun Chai바카라� that has been their companion in unending grief.