Holi, the grand festival of colors and joy is here and the celebration is incomplete without a refreshing glass of thandai. So, if you’re planning to prepare this classic drink at home, this blog’s going to be a fruitful read.
Explore the sweet and spicy thandai recipe and try different variations of it to add extra splashes of flavour to Holi celebrations. Scroll down.
What is Thandai?
Thandai or “thanda” means cold. Thandai word is also believed to come from “sardai”, a nutritious drink made with milk, nuts, sugar, poppy seeds, cardamon, etc., that provides energy to the body.
So, thandai is a traditional drink made with cold milk bursting with the flavour of aromatic spices and with a hint of sweetness. Drinking thandai can make your Holi celebrations livelier. It keeps you refreshed and helps you stay immersed in the playful activities of the day.
Before we move to the thandai recipe, let’s have a quick look at its origin and time taken to make it:
| Recipe Name | Thandai |
| Place of Origin | India |
| Total Time Taken | 15 minutes |
| Preparation Time | 7 minutes |
Simple 3-Step Thandai Recipe
The magic of thandai lies in its perfectly balanced ingredients that harmonise the flavour. Thandai powder is readily available in the market that you use to make instant thandai.
However, if you want to customize thandai masala as per your desired sweetness and flavour, you can follow the reference of the following thandai recipe. Feel free to adjust the proportions to your liking.
Ingredients for Thandai
- 3 tbsp of almond powder
- 2 tbsp of unsalted and crushed pistachios
- 2 tbsp of poppy seeds
- 4 tbsp of melon seeds
- 2 tbsp of rose petals (dried)
- 1 tbsp of fennel seeds
- ½ tsp whole black peppercorns
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 green cardamoms (peeled)
- 10 strands of saffron for color
Steps to Make It
- Mix all the ingredients in a grinder to make thandai powder with fine or a grainy texture, whichever you prefer.
- Take 4 tablespoons of thandai powder and mix it with milk or milk diluted with 50% water.
- Top it with ice cubes and cheers!
Make It More Flavourful
Add a fusion of fruity flavour to your thandai recipe and make each sip even more revitalising:
- Mango Thandai: Add 1 cup of mango pulp and blend it with the thandai.
- Strawberry Thandai: Mix 1 cup of crushed strawberries while blending or top it after everything is prepared.
- Litchi Thandai: Add a 1 cup of blended litchis and mix in the final thandai.
- Chocolate Thandai: Mix 4 tablespoons of chocolate syrup or chocolate powder in thandai.
Benefits of Drinking Thandai
Drinking thandai can have many health benefits such as:
Keeps Your Body Cool: While thandai is usually had on Holi, it can be a great summer drink due to the cooling and refreshing effects on the body and mind.
Nourishes Your Body: Dried fruit thandai such as badam thandai is great for providing omega-3s to your body that improve joint and muscle health.
Promotes Hydration: Thandai has plenty of water and essential nutrients in it that keep your hydrated and balance electrolytes to improve circulation.
Strengthens Immunity: Thandai is a tasty treat for boosting immunity as it contains protein and zinc from almonds.
To Sum Up
Thandai is an excellent Holi drink that you can enjoy all summer long. It can be made by simply mixing grounded dried fruits, cardamom seeds, melon seeds, saffron, etc., to chilled milk. You can customise the recipe by adding fruit pulp or chocolate to it and enjoy it as a delectable smoothie. This soft beverage will rejuvenate and nourish your body and mind while boosting immunity. You can prepare the powder in advance to be Holi-ready this weekend!
