Dinner is in the oven, and I've made us some Kashmiri Kahwa - a saffron-based spice tea that is delicious and utterly relaxing. Don't operate machinery or drive a car after drinking this.

You can purchase it occasionally in the shops, but it is best to make your own.

3 cloves, 4 cardamom pods, 2cm piece cinnamon, 1 pinch strands of saffron - crush them, pour over 2 cups boiling water, seep 5 mins. Sip and enjoy.

You can add - dried rose petals, almonds, walnuts, ginger, green tea, and/or sugar (I prefer it without sugar)

I first had this tea in Goa of all places, but in a shop run by a Kashmiri. He served it whilst I was browsing. It was SO divine that we chatted about it, and I began making it at home.

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South India has a range of hot drinks that are made from powdered spices - and they are delicious. And they usually go by the name Kappi (coffee), due mostly to their brown colour and "instant" nature.

Eg. Chukku/Sukku malli Kappi is made from dried ginger (lots), coriander seed, long pepper, black pepper, liquorice, tulsi and turmeric. It's sweetened with a little palm jaggery. Cumin seeds can be added. Very good for winter immunity and with coughs and colds. Some recipes vary, but always there is much ginger. Thus it is also good for digestion.

They are difficult to find in the shops here, but are quite easy to make your self. Just toast the coriander, cumin and peppers, and grind all to a powder. Use about 50g dried ginger to 15g coriander seeds, and 2 g each of everything else. Add jaggery to taste.

Mix 1-2 tspns with boiling water. Or simmer on stove. You can even add a tspn to your normal coffee for a gingery coffee sensation!

Also you can search on the internet for alternative recipes - you will find lots of spelling variations on the name.

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