Afghani Cardamom
From $17.50
What’s In The Packet?
100% natural. no added flavours. organic. artisanal.
hand-milled. hand-blended. hand-packaged
Feel
Clear.
Refreshed.
Animated.
Tastes
Fresh.
Fragrant.
Vegetal.
Fresh, vegetal flavour with gentle yet lively and aromatic notes of cardamom.
Experience It
Morning, Noon & Early Afternoon.
Hot or Iced. Pure or Sweet.
Solo or With Your Fav Treat.
Best Enjoyed
While it’s traditionally enjoyed sumptuously hot, Chai Sabz is also a delightful treat when served over ice on hot days. Its fresh, vegetal flavour and gentle spice are perfect without any additions. However, a dash of sweet alchemy from traditional sugar, jaggery (in winter), or your favourite sweetener will lift the cardamom to new heights, opening up new dimensions within each flavour. For a true Afghani experience, serve the first cup sweet and then enjoy the following cups in their natural state.
Best Served
If you’d like to serve your Afghani Cardamom tea in the traditional way, glass mugs are favoured, both in the homes and on the streets of Afghanistan. As a special treat, Afghanis do love bringing out their decorative porcelain teacups (perhaps even silver or brass cups if they’re really out to impress), especially when the tea is to be shared amongst family and close friends in the home. Of course, any Afghani tea lover will tell you it’s the taste and the company that matter most, so feel free to use your favourite teacups – even if they don’t match!
Pairs With
Its own beautiful self! Afghani Cardamom is perfect for tea lovers who enjoy sitting back and savouring every note of a tea’s flavour. However, it is equally delightful when served with traditional treats. Favourite Afghani sweets include sumptuous sugar-coated almonds, pistachios or chickpeas (noqul), and Afghanistan’s melt-in-your mouth kulcha cookies. For added decadence (and who doesn’t need that?) try some gosh-e-feel – a traditional fried pastry made for special occasions. Don’t fret if you can’t find any of these traditional treats. The clean flavour of Afghani Cardamom is equally tasty with dried fruit and nuts, and this just so happens to be another much-adored Afghani tea pairing.
Tea Time
Afghani Cardamom tea time truly can be any time you’d like. In Afghanistan, you’ll find locals delighting in hot cardamom tea at all times and in all weather. But if you’re caffeine sensitive, you may want to avoid evening tea breaks!
Caffeine Level
Moderate
For a soft and playful buzz
Taste Strength
Medium
For a rich, smooth experience
Known For
Focused Alertness. Tension Release. Gut Health
Brewing Guide
Keen for tea time in no time? Follow these steps to get your fix in a flash
-
Leaf
1 tsp
-
Liquid
200 ml
-
Method
Steep
-
Temp
100°C
-
Time
2 – 3 min
How to Brew the Simple Way
To Make 1 Cup:
- 1
Add 1 tsp of tea to a teapot, a tea maker, or an infuser pot, mug or cup.
- 2
Pour in 200 ml (7 fl oz) of water boiled to 100°C (212°F).
- 3
Steep for 2 – 3 min.
- 4
Strain into cup or, if using an infuser, remove it from the cup or mug.
- 5
Enjoy pure or sweeten to taste.
This Brewing Guide details how we recommend brewing your tea. But taste is a very personal thing, and we all have our own quirks and preferences. So feel free to experiment and have fun finding your tea brewing groove! You can then refer back to this Brewing Guide anytime you want a refresher on the best tools to use, the ideal brewing method, the magic leaf-to-water ratio, and the perfect water temperature and infusion time.
Unleash every flavourful element by brewing your Afghani Cardamom tea the traditional way
-
Leaf
1 tsp
-
Liquid
200 ml
-
Method
Steep
-
Temp
100°C
-
Time
2 – 3 min
How to Brew the Traditional Afghani Way
Tea Tools
All the specialised utensils you’ll need for the traditional brew:
-
Measure
You will need 1 tsp of tea per 200 ml (7 fl oz) of water. For best results, use freshly drawn ambient filtered water.
-
Boil
Boil the water in your kettle to 100°C (212°F).
Tip: When filling the kettle, add a little extra for pre-warming your teapot or thermal carafe.
-
Pre-Warm
Warm the teapot or thermal carafe by rinsing it with some of the freshly boiled water from your kettle. To do this, fill the teapot or carafe with enough water to cover the bottom, let it stand for about 1 min, then swirl it a few times and discard. To preserve the warmth of your brewed tea for longer, you may also wish to warm any teacups you’ll be using. Simply empty the water you used to warm your teapot or carafe into each cup before discarding.
Note: Warming your teapot or carafe before brewing can enhance the extraction of flavours and aroma from your tea. As a bonus, it'll also keep your tea nice and hot, even after pouring, ensuring a consistent brew. Similarly, pre-warmed teacups help maintain the ideal tea temperature, letting you fully enjoy the enchanting depths of your tea’s flavour and aroma. This step, while optional, can significantly improve your tea experience.
-
Brew
Add the tea to the teapot or carafe. Pour in the boiled water from your kettle. Cover and steep for 2 – 3 min. How long you steep depends on how strong you like your tea.
Gently swirl the tea in the pot or carafe to create a perfect infusion. Pour a test cup to ensure the colour is just right. When brewed well, Afghani Cardamom tea will develop a beautiful straw coloured liquor with an amber hue.
If your brew hasn’t fully developed, return it to the pot or carafe. This process has the added benefit of further warming your teacup while mixing and blending the colour and flavour of the tea inside the pot or carafe. If the colour is light, allow it to steep for a little longer.
-
Serve
Whether you’re enjoying your tea solo or with company, strain it through a mesh strainer to ensure the tea leaves don’t slip out. Serve pure or with sugar, jaggery, or your sweetener of choice. For the traditional experience, serve your first cup sweet and then enjoy each subsequent cup in its natural state.
Notes for sweet tooths:
Hot tea can alter honey’s taste and diminish its benefits, so let your cuppa cool a little. Honey is beautifully soluble in a slightly cooled brew, melting in perfectly while retaining its health-boosting properties. So, make it a habit to pause before pouring in honey!
If you like your tea steeped in history, jaggery may be your ideal sweetener, especially in winter. Also known as ghur or gur, jaggery is an unrefined sugar that retains more nutrients than refined sugar. It adds rich, caramel notes to tea, and it can raise body temperature, making it a comforting delight for the senses in chilly weather.
-
Drink
If you are drinking from a traditional handle-less cup, hold the rim with your thumb and index finger. Not only is this the traditional way, but it is also the best method for ensuring you do not burn your fingers.
Before taking your first sip, savour the aroma of the tea in the teacup to experience greater depths of flavour. The brew may be piping hot, so make your first sip small and take it slow, testing the temperature of the brew so that you don’t burn yourself. If you’re not in a rush, you can also let your brew cool for a while as you savour its comforting aroma, building up anticipation for that first satisfying sip.
This Brewing Guide details how we recommend brewing your tea. But taste is a very personal thing, and we all have our own quirks and preferences. So feel free to experiment and have fun finding your tea brewing groove! You can then refer back to this Brewing Guide anytime you want a refresher on the best tools to use, the ideal brewing method, the magic leaf-to-water ratio, and the perfect water temperature and infusion time.
Hot enough already? Try your tea iced!
How to Brew the Chilled-Out Way
To enjoy this tea iced, simply follow the Quick Brew steps, adjusting the leaf-to-water ratio based on the volume of your cup and how strong you like your tea (see tip below). After straining, add any sweetener you desire, then cool the tea uncovered so it reaches room temperature faster. Add your favourite garnishes to give it an extra refreshing kick. If you need some inspiration, Afghani Cardamom is delicious with fresh lime or lemon slices and a squeeze of juice. Serve chilled over ice.
Want to make a big batch of tea to fill a glass jug or pitcher?
In this case, it’ll be easier to prepare a tea concentrate first. Follow the Quick Brew steps, adding the amount of leaf you’ll need for the total volume of your jug or pitcher. However, instead of adding the full amount of water, only add 1 cup (250 ml / 8.5 fl oz) per litre (34 fl oz) of iced tea you’re making. After straining the concentrate into your vessel and adding your desired sweetener, top it up with the remaining volume of ambient water. No need to cool your tea – the ambient water will naturally do the job for you! Add your favourite garnishes and serve chilled.
Tips
Hate the gritty aftertaste of poorly blended sweetener? Incorporating your sweetener while the brew is hot ensures it blends flawlessly, enriching your tea with a charming sweetness that harmonises perfectly and never overpowers the other flavours.
Ice is infamous for diluting drinks, but you can harness its power to water things down by brewing your tea a little stronger than you otherwise would. To get it just right, try doubling the tea leaf quantity provided under Quick Brew. You many need to experiment a little to find your perfect balance.
Want even more depth in your iced brew? Swap the Quick Brew method for a Traditional Brew to draw more flavour and aroma from your iced tea. Just don’t forget to double your leaf!
This Brewing Guide details how we recommend brewing your tea. But taste is a very personal thing, and we all have our own quirks and preferences. So feel free to experiment and have fun finding your tea brewing groove! You can then refer back to this Brewing Guide anytime you want a refresher on the best tools to use, the ideal brewing method, the magic leaf-to-water ratio, and the perfect water temperature and infusion time.
