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    Home » Recipes » Drinks

    Thandai

    March 13, 2021 by Kankana Saxena

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    After sharing Thandai Powder recipe, I am sure you expected the Thandai Drink to show up soon. Holi festival is incomplete without a few glasses of this rich milk based Indian drink. Flavored with aromatic spices, nuts and rose water, it smells amazing perfumy and so refreshing.

    Pouring Milk Based Drink on a glass

    What is Thandai?

    This is a classic Indian drink that is specially prepared during Holi festival and then it keeps showing up all through Spring and Summer.

    Traditionally bhang is added in Thandai. Bhang is made from the bud, leaves and flowers of the female cannabis. It is added in a small quantity when preparing Thandai and is known to create mild hallucination.

    My Recipe has no bhang and it’s just purely aromatic and rich. Kids will love it too.

    All I used to prepare this milk based drink is my homemade Thandai powder, milk, pinch of saffron and rose water.

    Here is the link to my homemade easy Thandai Powder

    Close up photo of milk based Indian drink, garnished with rose petals and chopped nuts.

    Can you prepare this drink using dairy free milk?

    Oh yes! You can use oat milk, almond milk or your choice of plant based milk. 

    Making in advance and Storing Thandai  

    The nut spice Powder can be store in a clean dry airtight jar. You don’t need to store in the refrigerator unless it very and humid where you live.

    As for the Thandai Drink, I would highly recommend making a day in advance and store in the refrigerator as the flavors blend better overnight.

    The drink can be kept for few days in the refrigerator.

    Indian festival Drink - Thandai

    Are there health benefit ?

    Thandai is not only a refreshing thirst quencher, it comes with a few health benefit too.

    Because of the all the nuts and spices that goes in making the Thandai powder, the drink helps to boost immunity, cool down your body during brutal summer and aids in digestion.

    Can you prepare it without making the powder?

    Yes!

    Making the powder makes it easy and quick to prepare the drink.

    The traditional way is done little differently where they soak almond and then peel off the skin. The rest of the spice and nuts is then grinding with some milk to make a smooth paste like consistency.

    It is then simmered with milk along with rose water, sugar and saffron stands until the flavor blends in.

    Indian festival Drink - Thandai

    I told you two different ways to prepare Thandai and I prefer to make the spice powder in advance so I can use it to prepare not only the milk based drink but also cake, cookies, and other variety of desserts.

    Thandai

    Kankana Saxena
    After sharing Thandai Powder recipe, I am sure you expected the Thandai Drink to show up soon. Holi festival is incomplete without a few glasses of this rich milk based Indian drink. Flavored with aromatic spices, nuts and rose water, it smells amazing perfumy and so refreshing.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Beverage
    Cuisine Indian

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 liter whole milk
    • ¼ cup Thandai Masala Powder
    • 3 tablespoons sugar (add more if you prefer it sweeter)
    • 1 teaspoon rose water
    • few strands of saffron
    • chopped cuts and dried rose petals for garnish (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • In a heavy bottom pan pour the milk along with the thandai spice powder, sugar and rose water and saffron strands.
    • Simmer in medium heat stirring continuously for 15 minutes.
    • Once done, check for sugar and add more if you prefer.
    • At this point based on your liking, you can choose to strain the milk and then chill it in the refrigerator. If you don't mind the course like texture, then chill the Thandai drink in the refrigerator.
    • Enjoy it with chopped nuts and dried rose petal garnish.
    Keyword healthy beverage, Indian festival drink, milk based drink, Thandai
    Indian festival Drink - Thandai

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. mjskitchen

      March 15, 2021 at 9:40 am

      It's recipes like this that reminds me of how little I know about other types of cuisine, especially Indian cuisine. I'm amazed by the different ingredients and flavors that come from different regions. This beverage is a prime example. I would absolutely love to try it or, even better, make myself. Thank you for the link to the Thandai Powder. Since there are only adults in this house, I wonder if I could the Bhang. 🙂

    2. Priya

      March 27, 2012 at 5:54 am

      OMG...this is the exact same picture on that guy's blog! report him or something...i'm gonna comment on his page to take the picture off

    3. tannita

      November 30, 2011 at 4:44 am

      Hi - Can you drink this hot? and if so does one to chill it and reheat it?

    4. [email protected]

      October 11, 2011 at 1:19 am

      A rich drink! Looks great and too tempting...thandai is my all time fav drink, we have it on Holi, cant wait for next Holi festival to prepare this one....will plan it over the weekend! Your clicks are FAB 🙂

    5. Rosa

      August 30, 2011 at 11:57 am

      An amazing drink! What heavenly flavors, mmmhhhh.

      Cheers,

      Rosa

    6. Yasmeen @ Wandering Spice

      August 30, 2011 at 4:52 am

      This is among the most beautiful posts I've ever seen. And congratulations! What a great thing to celebrate.

    7. visda

      August 26, 2011 at 9:18 am

      too bad I missed this post. What a wonderful drink and congratulations for the day of freedom.

    8. foodingdo

      August 22, 2011 at 9:02 pm

      Hello! great recipe and yummy pictures, we would be glad if you could submit it to our site. Cheers 🙂

    9. sally

      August 20, 2011 at 2:41 pm

      It sounds delcious and the the saffron looks so pretty on top! What a great beverage to celebrate with!

    10. Michelle

      August 19, 2011 at 3:43 pm

      That sounds (and looks) really good! In our family of 6 we have one that is allergic to nuts, so I don't often make things with them. She would understand if I gave her chocolate milk and served the rest of us this, right?!

    « Older Comments

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