Blog
7 Winter Kitchen Staples for Pakistani Families
When winter arrives in Pakistan, kitchens change. Chai gets stronger, dry fruit comes out, and jars of honey move to the front of the shelf. Here are seven winter staples Pakistani families reach for, and simple ways to use each one.
1. Pureganic Malta Honey
Pureganic Malta is orange blossom honey from the citrus orchards of Sargodha, Punjab. It is bright, fruity and light.
How to use: stir into warm water with lemon, or into green tea.
2. Citrus Fruits
Kinnow, malta and mosambi are at their best in a Pakistani winter.
How to use: fresh juice, a fruit chaat, or zest in a honey dressing.
3. Tulsi (Holy Basil)
A fragrant herb grown in many Pakistani courtyards.
How to use: steep a few leaves in hot water, cool slightly and add a teaspoon of honey.
4. Ginger
The warming spice of every winter chai.
How to use: simmer crushed ginger in water or chai, then sweeten with honey once it has cooled a little. See our 5 warm honey drinks for winter.
5. Ajwain (Carom Seeds)
A familiar flavour in parathas, pakoras and family recipes.
How to use: add a pinch to parathas, or try Herbalicious Ajwain honey, made from ajwain flowers in Swat.
6. Almonds
Soaked almonds are a winter-morning tradition in many homes.
How to use: soak overnight, peel, and eat with a drizzle of honey, or blend into warm milk.
7. Shaftal Soul Honey
Shaftal Soul is a very light clover honey with a clean, mild sweetness.
How to use: in morning chai, on toast, or in baking.
Bringing It Together: A Winter Day
- Morning: soaked almonds and warm water with honey and lemon.
- Afternoon: kinnow juice or a fruit chaat.
- Evening: ginger chai or tulsi tea with honey.
- Night: warm milk with a spoon of honey.
Common Questions
Can children have honey?
Children over one year can have small amounts. Never give honey to babies under 12 months.
Is honey a medicine?
No. Honey is a food. If someone in your family is unwell, see a doctor.
Should people with diabetes have honey?
Honey is still a sugar. Ask your doctor first.
Explore BuzzinBeez honey for your winter kitchen.
A Winter Shopping List
If you want to stock the kitchen once and be ready for the whole season, here is what Pakistani families typically buy in November:
- Two jars of honey: one rich (Bairy Nectar) for warm milk and gifting, one light (Shaftal Soul or Goldy Palosa) for everyday chai.
- Fresh ginger, a bag of kinnow or malta, and a bunch of tulsi if you grow it.
- Almonds, walnuts and dates for the dry-fruit tin.
- Whole ajwain, cinnamon sticks and cardamom for drinks and parathas.
Three Winter Recipes Using These Staples
Dry Fruit Honey Mix
Chop a cup of almonds, walnuts and dates, stir in enough Bairy Nectar to coat, and keep in a jar. A spoonful with evening tea is a classic winter treat.
Kinnow Honey Juice
Juice four kinnows, stir in a teaspoon of Pureganic Malta and a pinch of black salt, and serve at room temperature.
Ajwain Paratha with Honey
Knead a pinch of ajwain and a little salt into whole-wheat dough, cook the parathas, and serve with a drizzle of Shaftal Soul.
Keeping Honey Through Winter
Raw honey often sets in cold weather. That is normal and a sign it has not been heat-treated. Keep jars away from the stove and direct sunlight, use a dry spoon, and warm a set jar gently in a bowl of warm water when you need it runny again.
A Note for Families
These are foods, not medicines. Honey is still a sugar, so enjoy it in moderation; ask your doctor first if you have diabetes. Never give honey to babies under 12 months, and if anyone in the family is unwell, see a doctor.
