Kashmiri Samovar

There is no home in Kashmir that does not have a samovar. Each family has one or two samovars. Kashmiris make tea in the samovar. Kashmiris are very fond of tea. That is why any time is considered tea time.

Inside a samovar there is a fire-container in which charcoal and live coals are placed. Around the fire-container there is a space for water to boil. Tea leaves, sugar, cardamom, and cinnamon are put in the water.

Samovars are not of only one type. Some samovars, in which only one or two cups of tea can be made, are very small. Other samovars, in which hundreds of cups of tea can be made, are very big. Samovars are made of copper or brass.

Kashmiris can make two or three types of tea in the samovar. The  is the favorite tea of Kashmiris. This tea is also call . There is a special tea for making it. It is called . The , sugar, cardamom, cinnamon, and almonds are boiled in water, but no milk is added.

The second type of tea is . It is made with , sugar, cardamom, and almonds. Milk, however, is also added. Kashmiri Pandits serve  at weddings and on feasts.

The third type or tea is called . This type is not made with . There is another kind of tea used for making that. It is prepared with bicarbonate of soda, salt, milk, and cream (). It has a very pleasant color.  also is a typically Kashmiri tea, but not everyone likes it.

Recently, some Kashmiris have started drinking Lipton tea. But even now, the favorite tea of Kashmiris is . It is said that good  cannot be made without the samovar.

It is difficult to say when the samovar was first introduced into Kashmir. In addition to Kashmir, the samovar is also found in Russia and Persia. Kashmiri tea can only be enjoyed in a Kashmiri kho:s (cup).

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