March is the Month for Holi, festival of colors and with that comes our love for Thandai Powder Masala. An aromatic nut and spice mix powder that is incredible with milk and used in several desserts too. Thandai Powder Masala is super easy to make and ready in 5 minutes.
Making Thandai Powder is so easy that one shouldn’t really get those store-bought packets.
Prepare a fresh small batch to enjoy the aromatic at its best.
What is Thandai Powder Masala?
Thandai is an Indian milk based drink that is typically served during Holi Festival. The month of March starts to get warm in India and as people play outdoor with holi colors (rangoli), a glass of cold thandai is the best thirst quenchers.
With all the aromatic spices and nuts, Thandai tunrs into a heathy drink. It cools down the body and improves gut health too.
Traditionally Bhang is added to Thandai. Bhang is a hallucinogen also known for its medical properties. It is often used to several desserts and Thandai too.
I am however sticking to just the spice and nut Thandai Powder Masala.
Spices, Seeds and Nuts needed.
- Almonds and Cashew – You can use either or both. If you are nut allergic, you can discard the nuts.
- Fennel Seeds
- Poppy Seeds
- Melon Seeds
- Black Pepper
- Green Cardamoms
- Saffron
- Dry Rose Petals
To prepare the Thandai Power, all you have to do is grind all these to form the masala. No roasting of the spices or the seeds are required.
It is that easy and quick.
How to store and use Thandai Powder
Store the Thandai Powder Masala in a clean dry airtight jar. You don’t need to store in the refrigerator unless it’s very hot where you live, and the humidity might spoil the powder.
The spice powder is extremely aromatic with a lot of health benefits too.
Simmer with warm along with some rose water (optional) and you have Thandai Drink.
You can mix the powder while making kheer or any other variety of milk dessert.
Mix in cookie dough to prepare Thandai cookies
You can even mix the Thandai powder in cake batter too. Here is a Colorful Holi Cake.
Typically Holi special drink Thandai is prepared using the same mix of nuts and spices but it is simmered for long hours. Using the spice mix powder is a quick and easy way to enjoy the flavors of Holi without much effort.
Whether you celebrate the festival or not, this spice and nut mix healthy powder will surprise your taste bud. And you will go for more.
A chill drink of Thandai is very soothing on warm days. I personally don't even mind a warm glass of milk mixed with this aromatic Thandai masala.
Thandai Powder Masala
Ingredients
- Almonds ⅓ cup
- Cashews ⅓ cup
- whole black peppercorns - 1 teaspoon
- fennel seeds - 2 tablespoons
- Melon seeds - 2 tablepsoons
- white poppy seeds - 1 tablespoon
- Green cardamom pods - 1 tablespoon
- Dried rose petals - 1 tablespoon
- a good pinch of saffron strands
Instructions
- Using a coffee grinder, grind the nuts seperatelty to a power. Take it out to a bowl.
- Add rest of the ingredients to the grinder and grind to a fine dust. Add to the same bowl.
- Give a mix and then store everything in an airtight container.
Notes
How to store and use Thandai Powder
Store the Thandai Powder Masala in a clean dry airtight jar. You don’t need to store in the refrigerator unless it’s very hot where you live, and the humidity might spoil the powder. The spice powder is extremely aromatic with a lot of health benefits too. Simmer with warm along with some rose water (optional) and you have Thandai Drink. You can mix the powder while making kheer or any other variety of milk dessert. Mix in cookie dough to prepare Thandai cookies You can even mix the Thandai powder in cake batter too. Here is a Colorful Holi Cake.Nutrition
mjskitchen
I'm wanting to make your Thandai Custard and was going through the ingredients for this spice mix. I have everything but the dried rose petals. I understand that rose flavor would be very hard to substitute, but I do have dried hibiscus. Do you think that would work?