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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
Candace
Happy Independence Day to you! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and commenting. It was so nice to have you visit. Your photos are absolutely fantastic. I would love to try this drink sometime. It looks delicious. Anything with cardamom and I'm in!
rebecca
this drink looks so good, happy independence day 🙂
Swathi
Thandai looks delicious. i love this drink.
gloria
happy Independence day!! look delicious! gloria
Najla
Happy Independence Day !!! Amazing snaps and nice combination of flavours !!! would love to try it out ....
tigerfish
Have not heard of this drink too. I just know this is absolutely exotic. And the infusion sounds amazing. Can't wait to try it if I get a chance to.
Najla
Happy Independence Day !!! Amazing snaps and nice combination of flavours.. would love to try it out ...
Cheryl and Adam @ pictureperfectmeals.com
Happy Independence day to you both! . As many places as we have been through Adam's work, we've not gotten there yet, but raveling to India is right at the top of the to-do list. And that is reinforced every time we see a new post of yours... such amazing flavors and beautiful colors! Great photos, too. Smiles on our faces... again!
Ana Eugenio
everything looks so yummy 🙂
Priyanka
Yummy...!!!!
Loved it 🙂
Luv'n Spoonfuls
This sounds so absolutely delicious...I am astounded at all the wonderful spices and flavors and can almost taste them just reading your post. I am bookmarking this as it seems very special. Happy Day as well!
Tiffany
Cardamom, saffron, pistachios, and almonds! These are some of my FAVORITE flavors in one lovely drink! 😀
Maris (In Good Taste)
Happy Independence Day to you! This looks like a delicious way to celebrate!
Shumaila
We celebrated Independence day with Kebabs and Naan! Wish had made thandai too! Lovely clicks and a great recipe! thanks for sharing Kankana!
Reem
Oh I love this post Kankana.... It reminds me of home and holi 😉
Beautiful pictures dear...
Yummy delicious Thandai... perfect way to enjoy summer.
chinmayie @ love food eat
Looks so good! That is a perfect treat on a summer afternoon!
Sandra's Easy Cooking
I wish you Happy Independence Day Kankana! This looks OMG reaction-hahaha Amazing really! I love your pictures and presentation..as for recipe I can only say wowwwwww!
torviewtoronto
looks fabulous Kankana and cooling
Happy independence day 🙂
Krithi
Happy Independence day Kankana... Nice way to celebrate with childhood favorite foods!
http://krithiskitchen.blogspot.com/
Vimitha
Belated independence day wishes dear... Thats flavored milk looks to be a perfect chiller