Thandai is a desi dry fruit beverage.It is a cool drink for a hot spring summer.
What is Thandai?
The masala/powder has both the goodness of milk and dry fruits.Also, has a great flavor due to a dash of spices.
You will find it across the gullies of Banaras as Bhole bhandari's Lord Shiva's prasad.People drink it with both with and without 'bhang'.Bhaang is a mix of leaves which cause mild intoxication.It is served only at legally permit shops.
Here is a recipe,which you can easily make at home without using thandai syrup from market.
No bhaang and yet gives you the same feel of Banaras.
When should you drink Thandai?
India is a land of festivals and each festival comes with new flavor.
People love to drink it during the festival of Maha shivratri and Holi which are celebrated in Feb-March each year.
At this time weather changes from winter to spring.Days are getting hotter, longer and nights shorter & warmer.
Mahashivratri marks the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, as per Hindu mythology.
Holi, the festival of colors in March is associated with Lord Krishna and Radha Rani .It is celebrated with grand fervor across India especially in Brindavan,Barsana and Mathura in UP.
Ditch the commercial cola and enjoy Desi style!
Scroll below to read the Thandai recipe
Thandai ingredients
Thandai is the traditional Holi drink. It is great way to have nuts and saffron in summer along with chilled milk.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp ‘saunf’ or fennel seeds
- 1 tbsp ‘khuskhus’ or poppy seeds (optional)
- 1 piece ‘dalchini’ or cinnamon
- 1 tsp ‘jaiphal’ or nutmeg powder
- 8-10 white peppercorns (optional)
- 1 tsp elaichi powder or cardamom powder
- ½ cup almonds (Soaked overnight or in hot water for 2 hours.Peeled)
- ½ cup cashews
- ¼ cup pistachios
- ¼ cup milk
- ¼ cup rose water (optional)
- 1½ ltr milk
- 8-10 strands of ‘kesar’ or saffron
- Sugar as per taste
Instructions
- Soak almonds overnight or in hot water for 4-5 hours.Peel the skin.
- Soak the remaining dry fruits in water for 2 hours.
- Grind the dry fruits with rose water,milk/water to form a fine paste and sieve it.
- Grind the spices for the thandai mix.Add to the dry fruit mix.
- Mix all thandai ingredients.
- Boil milk and reduce it to half.
- Add saffron and sugar.
- Allow it to cool until it comes at room temperature.
- Add the thandai mix to the milk.
- Allow it to cool in the fridge for 2-3 hours.
- You may strain the thandai before serving it.
Click here to read more drink recipes
Finally click here to watch more of our recipe videos
Please share your inputs..