How to Make Gilgit Baltistan Payo-Cha / Noon Chai (Salty tea )

In Baltistan it’s hard to imagine a break fast without Payo cha.

Famously known as Kashmiri chai in Pakistan and India. It is made from special tea leaves, milk and salt. A pinch of baking soda is added to give it a pink color. Gilgit Baltistan People eat sel roti/chupati with salty tea.

Apart from Baltistan and Kashmir most of the people of Pakistan and India use sugar instead of Salt . I would rather call that tea with sugar “A strawberry shake”.

Ingredients

1. 4 cups water 
2. 2 tsp green tea leaves
3. 2 cups milk
4. Salt (according to taste)
5. Crushed nuts (almonds and pistachios preferably)

Method

1. Pour two cups water in a pot with a broad base. Add the green tea leaves. 
2. Let the mixture simmer and boil for about 20 minutes, until the water is reduced by half. Now add two cups cold water while the mixture is boiling and stir. After adding the water, let it simmer for five to 10 minutes. While it simmers, boil the milk in another pot (you can add more cardamoms to milk, if you want). Keep stirring the mixture.
3. Add the tea mixture to the milk. Then add salt  according to your preference. Keep boiling the tea - the more you boil, the stronger the tea will be. Now finally pour the tea in cups, add the crushed nuts and enjoy a hot cup of noon chai.

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