Kahwa is a hot beverage made from tea leaves that are traditionally consumed in the Kashmir regions of South Asia as well as in some parts of West and Central Asia.
Know its history, nutritive value, potential health benefits, and downsides.
Kahwa
This is a hot beverage in which one steeps the green tea leaves (plant Camellia sinensis) in hot water along with saffron, cardamom, cinnamon, and Kashmiri rose petals.
Crushed nuts such as almonds, walnuts, etc. are also part of this traditional drink. The regions of the world that predominantly consume it as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and parts of Central Asia.
Sometimes, no green tea is used. Instead only the other ingredients are added to hot water and brewed to get a herbal infusion.
Kahwa tea (Source: Cook click n devour)Milk is usually not a part of this drink. This is added when the tea is made for elderly people or sick people.
The other names of this drink are Kahwah, Kehwa, or qehwa. In the olden days, this was brewed in a special container called samovar and this was of copper.
This container had a central fire container that ran as a central cavity in it. In this burning coal, pieces were kept to keep the tea warm.
Around this fire space, there was space to put the boiling water in along with tea leaves and the other spices and condiments. Peshawari kahwa is made from jasmine tea and green cardamom.
Nutritional facts
One cup of this hot beverage has 169 calories. Carbs provide 71 calories, protein 13 calories, and fats 85 calories. It has 17.6 g of carbs, 3.3 g of protein, and 9.4 g of fats.
There is no cholesterol. Fiber amounts to 0.3 grams in it. Besides this, tea is rich in a lot of minerals and vitamins. It has riboflavin, niacin, folate, and vitamin E.
The minerals found in it in fair amounts are calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, and potassium.
Kahwa drink (Source: Whiskaffair)Additionally, the other ingredients in this drink provide the body with a lot of antioxidants and beneficial substances that can overcome body inflammation and other chronic diseases of the body.
Health benefits
The tea has tea leaves and hence it has all the health benefits that green tea provides. This includes decreasing the risk of cancer, diabetes type 2, heart diseases, obesity, and the like.
Additionally, kahwa is also good for weight loss and can boost immunity. It energizes a person and makes him or her more alert.
As regards the other ingredients in it, saffron can help relieve the pain due to arthritis and also finds use in asthma. It has a role in infertility and impotence. It is also responsible for gut health.
Cinnamon also has anti-inflammatory properties and can assist in overcoming some chronic ailments of the body. It has a role in enhancing the control of blood sugar and reducing blood cholesterol. Moreover, it prevents any abnormal clot formation.
Kahwa or Kashmiri tea (Source: Healthy and hygiene)Read more: The new Purple tea from Kenya with a lot of anthocyanins and health benefits!
Cardamom has antibacterial actions and is good for the respiratory system. It reduces bad breath and treats upset stomachs. The manganese content of cardamom is good for smoother blood sugar control.
Almonds are rich in vitamins and healthy fats. They have a low glycemic index and are therefore good for diabetics. All this together goes to make the drink a healthy one. But one should be careful of the sugar content of the drink as this can increase inflammation.