In just a few days, most areas of Pakistan will experience strong gusts of winter winds. People will unpack their warm clothes and comforters to keep themselves covered and summer drinks will not feel refreshing anymore. However, the arrival of winter does not mean that there will be no drinks at all. There are a number of popular winter drinks in Pakistan that not only taste amazing but also help in keeping you warm especially during chilly nights.
This blog is an overview of the drinks that you can consume all winter. So, let’s begin.
Common Winter Drinks In Pakistan
In northern areas of Pakistan, winters are extremely cold while in central Punjab and other areas, the weather is moderate. While layers of clothes, jackets and sweaters keep you safe from chilly winds, people also focus on their diet that is based on items that help people to keep themselves warm. It is hard for people to leave their cosy warm comforters and do their chores so they opt for drinks and food that are easy to make and take less time.
Some of these winter drinks are the most exciting part of any event or a gathering of friends or family and people actually anticipate these to be served. No event or gathering is complete without these. Let’s take a look at these drinks:
- Hot tea
- Coffee
- Hot chocolate
- Kehwa
- Kashmiri chai
Hot Tea
It’s not just a winter drink in fact it is consumed throughout the year but since it is hot, it feels good in winters. The drink is easier to make and there are different recipes to make it at home. The core ingredients which are water, milk and black dust tea leaves remain the same while added ingredients will change the taste according to the need.
The drink is served at weddings and other occasions and has a very strong taste. If you are making it at home, there are a few things that you can add to it. Most consumed hot tea drinks during winters are cinnamon tea, ginger tea and doodh patti (milky tea), which also have beneficial medicinal effects and protect you against harsh weather, flu and cough.
Coffee
Coffee, as we all know, is a drink that is consumed across the world. Its strong fragrance is recognized from afar. In Pakistan, it’s mostly preferred in winters. Coffee is brewed from roasted coffee beans and also has some health benefits if consumed moderately. Some of the diseases that can be controlled through moderate consumption of coffee include type-2 diabetes, liver cancer, heart disease and Parkinson’s disease.
If you mix coffee directly into hot water, the resultant will be a black drink with a very strong taste but if you dilute it with milk, the taste will be different and better. The most common types of coffee consumed across the world include espresso, latte, cappuccino and americano.
Hot Chocolate
The dark creamy drink which became common in Pakistan only a few years ago, hot chocolate, is sweet but strong in taste and will keep your taste buds feeling the flavour long after you are finished. Hot chocolate, as the name suggests, is made using shaved chocolate, melted chocolate, or cocoa powder mixed with warm milk. The drink is not only made with milk instead you can also use water but then you will lose its thick creamy feel and flavour. However, if you make it with water, you will find the true flavour of the hot chocolate.
The drink is often whipped with cream to make it extra thick and enjoy the creamy flavour. You can also top the mug with marshmallows which have proved to taste good with hot chocolate.
Kehwa
Kehwa is a mild green drink that is consumed in different parts of central Asia, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Although it is a drink that is served after meals, the Pakhtuns consume it all day in small quantities and as a drink of hospitality. It is an extract of herbs that also has medicinal benefits and helps in digestion, increased metabolism and weight loss.
Kehwa is made up of whole spices, lemon, nuts and saffron boiled in water and consumed hot. Jaggery (Gurr) is added to the drink to give it a sweet taste and is usually prepared in a kettle. The drink is also available in the markets of Pakistan and is sold at very affordable prices
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Kashmiri Chai
Last but not least is a Kashmiri chai. Easily one of the most recognisable and popular winter drinks in Pakistan, Kashmiri Chai is served after dinner at almost every wedding during winters. The drink has a dusty pink colour and requires patience to make it. The chai is consumed with a mix of ground nuts including almonds, pistachio and walnuts. It depends on the taste of the consumer but usually, it is served with salt and has a very distinctive taste.
You can consume these drinks all winter and easily make them at big family events in your home. You can also let us know about your experience at blog@zameen.com.
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