Kashmiri tea

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Kashmiri chai, a winter staple, travels from Himalayan homes to city cafés across Pakistan

Once confined to Kashmiri households or consumed at winter weddings, the pink tea is now a seasonal fixture in Pakistan’s café culture
Slow, labor-intensive preparation, generous use of milk and dry fruits make Kashmiri chai costlier than other teas but demand continues to grow

By Kashaf Rehman · 03 February 2026