Servings
Font
Back
Thandai Recipe (Traditional Holi Drink)
4.9 from 42 votes

Thandai Recipe (Traditional Holi Drink)

Thandai is a traditional and popular North Indian drink, made during the Holi festival. A typical Thandai recipe is made with a powder or paste of nuts & seeds like almonds, pistachios, poppy seeds, melon seeds with fragrant spices like green cardamom, fennel seeds, black pepper, saffron and hints of rose. This Thandai powder or paste is further mixed with milk to make the refreshing and cooling drink.

Prep Time
1 hr 30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 30 mins
Servings: 8 glasses
Calories: 260 kcal
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

  • 1 cup water warm
  • 3 tablespoons almonds - 30 grams, rinsed
  • 2 heaped tablespoons pistachio 20 grams, unsalted and rinsed
  • 2 tablespoons poppy seeds white, (khus khus)
  • ¼ cup melon seeds - 30 grams
  • 2 tablespoons rose petals - dried or fresh or swap with 2 tablespoons rose water or 2 tablespoons gulkand (rose preserve)
  • 1 tablespoon fennel seeds
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper whole
  • 3 to 4 green cardamom husks removed and seeds kept
  • 15 to 18 saffron optional, strands
  • ½ cup sugar - 100 grams
  • 8 cups milk - cold or chilled, add as needed
  • ice cubes - as required, optional
  • rose petals or chopped almonds or pistachios for garnish, few

Instructions

Soaking nuts and seeds
    Cup of Yum
  1. In a bowl, pour 1 cup warm water.
  2. Then add almonds, pistachios, poppy seeds (khus khus), melon seeds, dried rose petals, fennel seeds and black pepper. 
  3. Mix very well. Cover and keep aside for minimum one hour or two hours. If you use water at room temperature, then you can also keep overnight or for 4 to 5 hours in the fridge.
Making thandai paste
  1. After 1 to 2 hours, pour the whole mixture including the soaking water in a grinder or blender jar. Do make sure to use a high-speed grinder or blender.
  2. Add ½ cup sugar, seeds from 3 to 4 green cardamoms and the saffron strands. 
  3. Blend the mixture to a very smooth and fine paste. Remove in a bowl and keep aside. You can cover and refrigerate if not using immediately.
Making thandai recipe
  1. To prepare thandai, take about 4 tablespoons of the thandai paste in a glass. You can add less or more thandai paste as needed.
  2. Add chilled milk. You can also use half-half combination of milk and water.
  3. Mix very well. Check the taste and add more sugar if needed.
  4. Add a few ice cubes if you like.
  5. Garnish with rose petals. You can also garnish with some chopped almonds or pistachios.
  6. Serve thandai immediately. Alternatively, you can prepare the thandai drink in a large mug or jug. Refrigerate and then serve.
Storage
  1. For make ahead, store the thandai paste in the refrigerator and it keeps well for a week.

Notes

  • Nuts: Traditionally almonds and pistachios are included. Swap cashews with pistachios. For pistachios do not use the salted ones.
  • Rose flavors: If using gulkand (rose petals preserve), then reduce the sugar to ⅓ cup. Or instead add 2 tablespoons rose water. 
  • Thandai paste consistency: Grind the paste very finely, especially if preparing for kids. You can even strain the thandai paste if your blender or mixer is not able to make a fine paste. If the paste is not super fine or finely ground, it will give a gritty and grainy texture in the drink.
  • Peeling almonds: You can use peeled almonds if you want. Just blanch the almonds separately and then peel them.
  • Vegan option: Use almond milk, cashew milk or lite coconut milk. Almond milk is a better choice for this recipe. 
  • Seeds: Skip poppy seeds and melon seeds if they are not available in your country. You can replace melon seeds with unsalted peeled pumpkin seeds. 

Nutrition Information

Calories 260kcal (13%) Carbohydrates 27g (9%) Protein 10g (20%) Fat 13g (20%) Saturated Fat 5g (25%) Trans Fat 1g (50%) Cholesterol 24mg (8%) Sodium 109mg (5%) Potassium 425mg (9%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 25g (50%) Vitamin A 399IU (8%) Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 1mg Vitamin B6 1mg Vitamin B12 1µg (42%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Vitamin D 3µg (15%) Vitamin E 1mg Vitamin K 1µg Calcium 336mg (34%) Vitamin B9 (Folate) 18µg Iron 1mg (6%) Magnesium 68mg (17%) Phosphorus 293mg Zinc 2mg

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8 glasses

Amount Per Serving

Calories 260

% Daily Value*

Calories 260kcal 13%
Carbohydrates 27g 9%
Protein 10g 20%
Fat 13g 20%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 24mg 8%
Sodium 109mg 5%
Potassium 425mg 9%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 25g 50%
Vitamin A 399IU 8%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 1mg
Vitamin B6 1mg
Vitamin B12 1µg 42%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Vitamin D 3µg 15%
Vitamin E 1mg
Vitamin K 1µg
Calcium 336mg 34%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 18µg
Iron 1mg 6%
Magnesium 68mg 17%
Phosphorus 293mg
Zinc 2mg

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.