Pakistani pink tea: ingredients and health benefits

Pink tea is a pink-colored tea that is a traditional drink in the valley of Kashmir in Pakistan. It is a hot beverage that is made from a special variety of tea leaves.

It has crushed nuts and other spices in it with milk and sugar. How does the tea get the pink color? What are its health benefits?

Pink tea

Pink tea is also called gulabi chai or noon chai. Gulabi stands for pink and chai is tea in Urdu and Hindi. Noon stands for salt and the tea was so called because traditionally salt was used in this tea.

It is only over the years that sugar replaced salt and the modern version is, therefore, sweeter than its ancestors.

The origin of this tea is in the valley of Kashmir in Pakistan. It is made from the same tea leaves of the tea plant or Camellia sinensis. But it is a special variety of the plant. The tea produced is more fragrant and creamy than the other tea types.

The tea has milk, sugar, baking soda, and whole spices such as star anise, cinnamon, cloves, and green cardamom. On the top are added crushed nuts.

How to make the tea?

For making the tea, first, the keyway or tea base is made. For this, Kashmiri or green tea leaves (if Kashmiri tea is not available at your place) are taken and to this baking soda and spices are added.

This keyway is then boiled along with milk and sugar and the tea is ready for consumption. On top of this tea, one can add small pieces of nuts.

The rosy color comes due to the reaction of baking soda with the tea leaves and also due to the beating of the keyway. The more air enters the tea base, the pinker the resulting tea.

There is no food color used in this tea. When green tea is used instead of Kashmiri tea leaves, the color might not be as pink as that with the Kashmiri leaves.

Health benefits

This tea can boost the body’s immune system. This is due to the vitamin C present in the tea. It has magnesium, sodium, potassium, and vitamin C. All these help in making the bones stronger. It can assist in weight loss and also fight hunger pangs.

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One cup of tea has very less calories. There are 9 grams of fats, 12 grams of carbs, and 7 grams of sugars. Protein is 9 grams while cholesterol is 35 mg.

This totals 115 calories. It reduces blood cholesterol and can protect the heart from diseases. It also keeps the gut healthy and eases digestion.

The antioxidants also help in smoother blood sugar control. It can regulate bowel movements and prevent constipation.

There is a role of antioxidants in it in helping the liver detoxify the waste from the body. These tea leaves can also make the skin glow and overcomes wrinkles and aging. They possess anti-inflammatory properties and are good to keep chronic diseases in check.