This traditional and mesmerizing tea blends green tea leaves, aromatic spices, and a little baking soda magic to create a gorgeous, pink-hued beverage. Creamy, lightly sweet, and delightfully fragrant — perfect for cozy mornings or a special teatime treat.

---

✨ Ingredients:

• 4 cups water

• 2 tablespoons Kashmiri or Himalayan green tea (or any good quality green tea)

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1–2 star anise

• 2 cardamom pods, lightly crushed

• 1 cinnamon stick

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 2 cups whole milk

• Sugar or honey to taste

• Crushed nuts (e.g., almonds or pistachios) for garnish (optional)

---

🥄 Instructions:

1. Prepare the tea base:

• In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil.

• Add the green tea leaves, star anise, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, and baking soda.

• Lower the heat and let the tea simmer uncovered on low for 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally.

• As it simmers, the water will reduce by about half and the color will deepen into a burgundy or reddish tone — this is what helps create the beautiful pink color later.

2. Aerate the tea (important step for color!):

• After simmering, vigorously whisk the tea for 5–10 minutes, either using a whisk or by repeatedly pouring it from one container to another from a height.

• This action helps incorporate air into the tea, which reacts with the baking soda and enhances the pink hue.

3. Add cold water:

• Add 1/2 to 1 cup of cold water to the aerated tea concentrate to "shock" it and help stabilize the color.

4. Add milk and flavor:

• Stir in the whole milk.

• Simmer gently for another 5–10 minutes until the tea turns a beautiful, creamy pink color.

• Add salt and sugar or honey according to your taste preference.

5. Strain and serve:

• Strain the tea into cups to remove the spices and tea leaves.

• Garnish with crushed nuts like almonds or pistachios if desired for an elegant finishing touch.

---

🌟 Tips for Success:

• Quality of Tea: Traditional Kashmiri tea leaves are less oxidized than typical green tea and yield better color, but you can still achieve beautiful results with regular green tea.

• Baking Soda: Don’t skip the baking soda! It's essential for the chemical reaction that turns the tea pink.

• Whisking: Aerating the tea well is key to achieving the signature pink hue.

• Milk: Whole milk provides the creamiest, richest flavor, but you can experiment with evaporated milk for an even richer taste.

• Serving: This tea pairs beautifully with savory snacks like samosas, pakoras, or sweet pastries.

---

📜 Quick Summary:

• Flavor: Lightly spiced, creamy, with a mild salty-sweet balance.

• Color: Natural pink from a magical tea-making process.

• Experience: Warm, comforting, and rich in tradition.