If you have ever celebrated Holi, it is unlikely that you wouldn’t have enjoyed the Thandai Recipe in one of its many forms.
In this post, we will show you how to make Thandai recipe at home with step-by-step instructions.
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About Thandai Recipe:
Thandai as the name itself means (thanda is cool in Hindi) is a cooling drink and hence is usually made in Summers.
One of the most prominent summer festivals is Holi. In fact, the onset of peak summers starts with Holi.
And probably that is what makes this festival the most ideal one for Thandai.
Thandai is primarily popular towards the Northern parts of India. It is made with a cooling paste that includes spices, nuts, seeds, rose petals, and milk.
The primary ingredients include almonds, pistachios, poppy seeds, and melon seeds.
These along with some of the cooling spices like Fennel seeds, saffron, cardamom, and some pepper is all ground to a smooth paste which is then mixed with milk to make Thandai recipe.
Thandai has some amazing benefits like curing constipation and flatulence and also boosts energy.
If you enjoy traditional summer drinks like this one, make sure to check out my full collection of 14 summer drinks you can try this season.
Serving Suggestion:
Serve chilled in earthen or glass cups for an authentic touch.
Garnish with saffron strands, crushed dry fruits, and a few rose petals to make it festive.
Perfect for Holi celebrations, summer parties, or as a cooling drink after lunch.
You can also use it as a base for desserts like Thandai kulfi or Thandai milkshake.
Storage Suggestion:
Store the prepared thandai mix (paste) in an airtight glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 10–12 days.
Once mixed with milk, consume the drink within 2–3 days for best freshness and taste.
Always use a clean, dry spoon to avoid spoilage.
Shake or stir well before serving, as ingredients may settle at the bottom.
Why you Should Make this Recipe:
Thandai is one amazing recipe that you should make at home.
Not only is making at home economical, but it is also fresh when made at home, unlike the store-bought ones which might have been on the shelf for some time before it reaches your household.
Rich, refreshing, healthy, and super easy to make, this Thandai recipe is the perfect drink for the festive occasion of Holi.
Thandai has a lot of benefits as well. Here are some of the reasons why you should make Thandai recipe –
- It cures constipation and flatulence
- It improves digestion
- It boosts energy and immunity
- It gives a nice festive feeling to Holi
It’s a rich and tasty drink that your kids and family members will absolutely love.
This Homemade Thandai recipe that I have here is a tried and tested recipe. It tastes amazing and I am sure your family members are going to love it.
Pro Tips:
- Make sure you accurately measure the ingredients because the amounts have a big impact on the final flavour.
- Always soak the nuts well before blending. Soaked nuts blend well and gives the drink a smooth texture. Incase you do not have time to soak, then at least keep them in hot water for an hour before blending.
- Some people strain the thandai using a fine-mesh strainer. However, I do not recommend it. I enjoy the bits of spices or nuts that comes into my mouth as I drink. If you don’t like that you can just grind the nuts in a powerful mixer grinder to form a smooth paste.
- This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled.
Looking for some more Recipes for this Holi:
Festivals are all about celebrations, lights, and colours. And every festival is incomplete without tasty food.
One of the things about these festivals in India is that every festival has a unique spread of dishes and recipes that are made especially during those specific festivals.
Holi too has a set of recipes that are specifically made during Holi.
I have put together a collection of 15 such recipes in this post about Holi Special Recipes. You can check it out if you want to make something tasty this Holi.
Here are four of the prominent recipes that are made during Holi.
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Basic Ingredients used to Make this Holi Special drink:
Thandai, the Ultimate Summer Cooler, is handcrafted at home to ensure the finest quality, taste, and nutritional value. Check out what other ingredients go into it.
Milk: Whole milk is used to make the best thandai (full-fat milk). However, you can make it with skim or low-fat milk.
Dried nuts: You will need dried seeds and nuts like almonds, cashewnuts and pista. I prefer using cashew, almond and pista, but you can always substitute one for the other.
Poppy Seeds: One of the most important ingredients in thandai is poppy seeds. If you live in a country where it isn’t available, simply substitute a few cashews. You’ll get a similar creamy flavour.
Watermelon Seeds: Melon seeds is again, a very important ingredient, just like poppy seeds, to form the base of the paste.
Spices: Whole spices including green cardamoms, black peppercorns, and fennel seeds are used to flavour this drink.
Saffron: The use of saffron strands is optional, but it enhances the drink’s flavour. It also gives Thandai a tint of yellow colour. If you want, you can even use a pinch of turmeric instead of saffron.
Rose Petal: This Thandai also contains REAL rose petals – not an extract, flavour, or essence – but 100 percent true rose petals for 100 percent real health benefits. You can skip it if you don’t have it or in case you don’t want to add it.
Sugar: Adjust the sugar as per your taste. You can also sweeten it with honey or maple syrup.
Holi Special Thandai Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ltr Milk full fat
- Sugar to taste
- 1/4 cup Cashewnuts soaked
- 1/4 cup Almond soaked
- 1/4 cup Pista soaked
- 10 nos Cardamom soaked
- 10 nos Peppercorn soaked
- 2 tbsp Watermelon Seeds/magaj soaked
- 1 1/2 tbsp Fennel Seeds soaked
- 2 tbsp Poppy Seeds/khuskhus soaked
- 1/2 tsp Cinnamon Powder
- 1 tbsp Rose Petals
- Saffron a generous pinch, soaked
- Water/milk a dash of
- Ice cubes few
Instructions
- Soak all the nuts well before blending.
- Add everything one by one in a blender.
- Blend together cashewnuts, almond, pista, cardamom, peppercorn, poppy seeds, fennel seeds, water melon seeds, cinnamon powder, saffron alongwith 2-3 tablespoons warm milk or water into a smooth paste.
- Boil milk in a deep non-stick pan.
- Add sugar to boiling milk and mix till it melts.
- Add ground paste, mix and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Pour in a jar and refrigerate it.
- Garnish with some pista and rose pettle and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
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I am an independent blogger and the reviews are done based on my own opinions. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.
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Frequently Asked Question about Holi Special Thandai Recipe:
Can we make this Thandai recipe vegan?
Of course! you can.
Can we store Thandai masala in the fridge?
The thandai paste can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week or frozen for up to a month. Keep it refrigerated or frozen in an airtight container.
Can I make thandai without soaking the nuts?
It’s best to soak them for a few hours or overnight. Soaking makes the paste smoother and easier to digest.
Can I use store-bought thandai powder?
Yes, but homemade thandai is fresher, healthier, and more flavorful since it has no preservatives or added sugar.
Is thandai only made for Holi?
While it’s traditionally made during Holi, you can enjoy thandai all through summer as a cooling and energizing drink.
Can I use cold milk directly without boiling?
Yes, if you’re using pasteurized milk, you can directly mix it with the thandai paste. Otherwise, boil and cool the milk first.
Is thandai safe for kids?
Yes! Just skip or reduce the spices like black pepper if making for kids, and serve it chilled with some crushed nuts.
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