LifeFoodRecipes 46: 7 Desi Winter Drinks That Will Warm Your Body (&...

Recipes 46: 7 Desi Winter Drinks That Will Warm Your Body (& Your Heart)

Oh, the winter chills! They can get a little challenging as much as they are thrilling at times. Sunbathing hits different during the cold months and when it is accompanied with a garma-garam, desi drink, there’s nothing like it. 

So, wear your jackets and socks, and cozy up with a warm desi drink in hand.

Here are 7 such recipes you can try out this winter.

1. Masala Chai

Recipes 46: 7 Desi Winter Drinks That Will Warm Your Body (& Your Heart)

Prep Time: 1 minute

Cook Time: 9 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups water
  • 2 tsp black tea
  • ¼ cup milk (at room temperature)
  • 1-inch cinnamon
  • 2 to 3 green cardamoms
  • 2 cloves
  • 1-inch ginger 
  • Sugar to taste

Method:

  • Take green cardamoms, peeled ginger, cinnamon, and cloves in a mortar pestle, and crush them into a coarse powder.
  • Heat water in a pan.
  • Add the spice mixture once the water has come to a boil.
  • Boil the spices in water for 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Next, add the tea leaves and boil for a minute. If you prefer your tea strong, boil for a few more minutes.
  • Finally, add milk and again boil for 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Pour this through a strainer placed on the cups and then serve.

2. Kashmiri Kahwa

Recipes 46: 7 Desi Winter Drinks That Will Warm Your Body (& Your Heart)

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups water
  • 2 inches dalchini (cinnamon)
  • 2 chhoti ilaichi (green cardamoms)
  • 2 laung (cloves)
  • 5 to 6 dried rose petals (optional)
  • Sugar to taste
  • 1 tsp green tea leaves
  • 4 to 5 almonds/walnut 
  • 10 to 12 saffron strands (optional)

Method:

  • Take the spices in a mortar pestle and crush them into a coarse powder. Keep aside.
  • Crush the almonds or walnuts.
  • Take water in a saucepan and place it on medium heat.
  • Add the crushed spices and dried rose petals in the water.
  • Add sugar as per taste.
  • Switch off the flame and keep the pan off the heat before adding green tea.
  • Cover the pan with a lid and soak green tea in the water for 3 minutes.
  • Pour the tea through a strainer placed on the cups.
  • Sprinkle a few strands of saffron and crushed almonds in every cup before serving.

Read: 5 Swadisht Dal Recipes To Make Your Meals More Interesting

3. Kharik Badam Ka Doodh (Date & Almond Milk)

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 4½ cups whole milk
  • 10 khajoor (dates)
  • 12 almonds
  • ¼ tsp ilaichi (cardamom powder)
  • A few strands of kesar (saffron)

Method:

  • Soak almonds overnight for about 5 hours and then peel them off.
  • Deseed the dates.
  • Boil milk in a pan and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Blend the almonds and dates with 5 tablespoons of milk in a mixer to get a fine paste.
  • Add this paste in the hot milk and allow it to simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Finally, add cardamom powder and switch off the flame.
  • Sprinkle a few strands of saffron and crushed almonds before serving.

4. Black Tea

Prep Time: – 

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1½ tsp tea leaves
  • 1 tsp shahad (honey) to taste
  • 2 cups water

Method:

  • Boil water in a sauce over medium heat for 3 minutes.
  • Switch off the flame and then add tea leaves. Cover the pan.
  • Let the leaves soak in water for 2 minutes.
  • Strain the tea leaves through a strainer placed over the cups.
  • Add honey, blend it well, and serve.

Read: 5 Soup Recipes For The Winter To Keep You Warm

5. Masala Doodh (Milk)

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 10 almonds
  • 10 cashews
  • 15 pistachios
  • 10 to 12 saffron strands
  • 4 green cardamoms
  • 2 cloves (optional)
  • 3 cups milk
  • 1 to 2 pinches of nutmeg powder
  • Sugar to taste

Method:

  • Crush the nuts in a mortar pestle or grind them in a dry grinder.
  • Add green cardamom seeds, cloves, and saffron strands to the above and grind again.
  • Boil a pan of milk on low-medium heat and stir at frequent intervals so it doesn’t burn from the bottom or get stuck to the sides.
  • After the milk comes to a boil, add the masala powder.
  • Next, add 1 to 2 pinches of nutmeg powder to the hot milk. 
  • Then, add sugar and blend well. 
  • Let the milk simmer for 4 to 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Masala milk is ready to be served.

6. Bajari Ni Raab / Bajra Raab

Prep Time: – 

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 4 tbsp black millet flour
  • Water as required
  • 4 tbsp ghee
  • 4 tbsp sugar
  • Water as required

Method:

  • Heat ghee in a deep-bottomed pan on medium flame. 
  • Add black millet and mix well.
  • Add enough water to the above mixture to give it a watery consistency and combine to get an even paste.
  • Cook this for a minute, stirring continuously.
  • Add sugar to the above and blend well again, and keep cooking for 2 more minutes.
  • Serve hot.

7. Tulsi (Holy Basil) Tea

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 15 to 20 fresh tulsi leaves
  • 1 glass of water
  • 1 tbsp honey

Method:

  • Add tulsi leaves to a cup of water in a pan and bring it to a boil.
  • Reduce the flame and let the water simmer for at least 10 minutes. 
  • The water turning brown in colour indicates that the juices of tulsi leaves have got completely infused in them.
  • Switch off the flame.
  • Keep it aside until it becomes lukewarm.
  • Strain this through a strainer placed on cups.
  • Add honey and blend well.

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