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.
the good soup
what a lovely drink. I've made plenty of almond milk (one of Oliver's favourites, but never used almonds and spices to flavour cow's milk before. thanks for sharing your Independence Day with us, dear Kankana! x
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com
Happy Independence Day Kankana - sorry yaar, meri tabiat theek nahi thi. Sigh.
That thandai looks too beautiful to even consume!!! Love the photos 🙂
Sweet Artichoke
Woaw, your pictures are always so beautiful! This set is not exception!
The drink looks delicious and so festive!
Sawsan@chef in disguise
Happy independence day!
I have never heard of thandai before but now it is on my must try list!
Lisa H.
Happy Independence Day (belated)...
This drink looks very appetising... as well as healthy, flavoursome with the nuts and spices, yum...
Christine
A belated independence day Kankana! These drinks look wonderfully delicious! I never tried that. Very tempting.
blackbookkitchendiaries
hi! this is my first time checking out your blog too:) its beautiful. i am so glad to have found you. your talent is truly inspiring! thank you for sharing this.
Juliana
Kankana, Happy Independence Day!
This almond drink is so interesting...I never had anything like this and would love to try it.
Hope you are having a great week 🙂
Vijitha
Gorgeous pictures. This dish is new to me. I make badam milk with same ingredients but no peppercorns.Did you draw the flag?
Kankana Saxena
Oohh i love badam milk too! Yeah I drew that flag .. so silly .. looks like a work done by 2 year old kid.
Kankana Saxena
Thank you guys! All these words makes me so happy and motivated all the time 🙂
Treat and Trick
Fantastic clicks and wonderful drink!
mustardseedmeadow
Wow!! What beautiful photographs. I will have to make this now!
sukanya
loved your wonderful and gorgeous summer drink..we used to make this specially for hoil..and definitely a great way to celebrate Independence day..jai ho
Kitchen Belleicious
I am just going to make this for me, myself and I since the hubby doesn't really like milky stuff. Seriously it looks amazing, out of this world and I am craving it now
Anamika
This is one drink that's a must try for all whio haven't been lucky enough till now. So rich, creamy and delicious. I want it right now 🙂
elle marie
Delish, I love how you utilized the topping, such lovely colors and contrast.
Tadka Pasta
All the pics are so beautiful, and can't say enough good things about this wonderful drink! Love it! This is on our to-do list.
Kim Bee
Happy Independence Day Kankana!!! Love this post!
Roxana GreenGirl
Happy independence day Kankana. My favorite non dairy milk is almond milk but I'd love to spice it up a little.
p.s. I really need to take some photo lessons, your photos are AMAZING!!!
foodwanderings
Kankana, what a nice tribute for India's Independence Day. Goegrous drink andp photos. & best anthem in th eworld, that I didn't know! 🙂