Chai Sabz (Afghan Green Tea with Cardamom)
Local name: چای سبز
In short: Light green tea simmered with crushed cardamom pods, poured through a strainer and sipped slowly after meals with sweets or nuts. It takes about 14 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 2 min
- Cook
- 12 min
- Total
- 14 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 20 kcal
Chai sabz is the green tea that Afghans offer to every guest, poured from a teapot into small cups and refilled until the guest signals they have had enough. The tea is brewed with crushed cardamom pods for a sweet, floral aroma, and it is often served with sugar cubes, nuts or sweets. It is light, clear and not bitter, so it suits the end of a heavy meal of rice and kebabs.
Instructions
- Bring the water and cardamom pods to a boil in a small pot, then simmer for 3 minutes so the cardamom perfumes the water.
- Take the pot off the heat and wait 1 minute, since green tea is better brewed just below boiling. Add the tea leaves.
- Cover and steep for 3 minutes. Do not steep longer, or the tea will turn bitter.
- Strain the tea into a teapot and pour into small cups. Serve with sugar, nuts or sweets, and refill the cups as often as guests like.
Tips
- Crush the cardamom pods just enough to split them open. Whole pods give a gentle aroma, while crushed seeds make the tea stronger and a little cloudy.
- For a festive cup, add a few dried rose petals or a thread of saffron to the pot with the tea leaves.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between chai sabz and chai siyah?
Chai sabz is made with green tea, while chai siyah is black tea, which is stronger. Afghans drink both, and cardamom is common in either.
Can I use tea bags?
Yes. Use 2 green tea bags for this amount of water and steep them for 3 minutes, then remove them.
Is it served sweet?
Often, but the sugar is on the side. Guests add it to taste, or hold a sugar cube in the mouth and sip the tea through it.
How long does it take to make Chai Sabz (Afghan Green Tea with Cardamom)?
About 14 min in total: 2 min of preparation and 12 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Chai Sabz (Afghan Green Tea with Cardamom)?
About 20 kcal per serving, with 0 g of protein, 5 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 20 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 5 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 5 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
