Kış Çayı (Turkish Winter Tea)
کِش چائی (ترکی سردیوں کی چائے)
Kış çayı means "winter tea", and in Turkey it's sold ready-mixed in every market from November: a jar of dried rosehips or hibiscus, cinnamon bark, cloves, ginger, dried apple and orange peel. Simmered for ten minutes, it turns into a deep red, spiced, fruity drink that smells like a festive kitchen. It's caffeine-free, and it's very easy to make your own blend from the spice box and fruit bowl.
- ⏱ Total: 20 min
- Prep: 5 min
- Cook: 15 min
- Easy
- Serves 4
Method
Tap a step when it is done.
Put the water, rosehips or hibiscus, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, orange peel and apple in a and bring to a boil.
Simmer gently for 10 minutes, until deep red and fragrant.
Strain through a fine sieve, stir in the orange juice and honey, and serve hot.
Kitchen notes
Make a dry mix of rosehips or hibiscus, broken cinnamon, cloves and dried orange peel, and keep it in a jar for the whole winter.
Kinnow peel, dried in the sun for a few days, is perfect for this and costs nothing.
Add honey off the heat to keep its flavour.
Winter in a jar
From late autumn, Turkish markets and spice shops sell bags of kış çayı mix, and many families make their own. It’s one of the most comforting things to keep in the cupboard: a handful in a pot of water, and the whole house smells of cinnamon and oranges.
Building the blend
- Something tart and red: rosehips (kuşburnu) or hibiscus. Both give colour and a fruity sourness.
- Warm spices: cinnamon and cloves, with ginger for heat.
- Fruit: orange peel and apple for sweetness and aroma.
- Honey: at the end, to taste.
Pakistani winters bring plenty of kinnow and apples, so this is a good way to use the peel you’d otherwise throw away.
Brewing
Unlike delicate flower teas, this blend is simmered, which draws out the colour of the fruit and the warmth of the spices. Ten minutes is enough. Strain well and add fresh orange juice at the end for brightness.
Serving
Serve hot in tulip glasses on cold evenings, or chilled over ice in summer. It’s a beautiful caffeine-free drink for guests, with a plate of baklava or dried fruit.
Questions people ask
Can I add black tea?
Yes. Add a teaspoon of black tea in the last 3 minutes for a spiced black tea, but it will no longer be caffeine-free.
Can I serve it cold?
Yes. Chilled and poured over ice, it makes a lovely spiced iced tea for iftar.
How is it different from kashmiri chai?
Completely different. Kashmiri chai is green tea with milk and baking soda; kış çayı is a fruit and spice infusion with no milk.
Nutrition (estimate, per serving)
- Calories
- 50
- Protein
- 0 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 13 g
