How do I prepare Johar Joshanda, and can I adjust the taste if the first cup is too strong?

Tear open one sachet, empty the dry herbal granules into a cup, add boiling water and stir. The granules are designed to dissolve in hot water in seconds, so there is no brewing, straining or measuring. The drink comes out dark, with a slightly bitter-sweet, intensely herbal taste and a warming sensation in the throat and chest. For many people the first cup is a small discovery: the herbal character is pronounced, and it is common to round it off with a spoon of honey, a slice of lemon or a little fresh ginger. Any of those additions soften the flavour without turning it into a different drink.

If you prefer an even milder cup, pour the sachet into a larger mug and add more hot water. The sachet is a measured portion, so it is best to use one sachet per cup and to stir well before drinking. Do not expect the granules to work like loose tea leaves; they are meant to dissolve, not to be strained out. Let the cup cool slightly before the first sip, and drink it warm. A six-sachet pack gives you six opportunities to find your preferred version — plain, with honey, with lemon, or with ginger — before you decide whether to keep a box at home or at the office.