Thandai Powder

Thandai is a delicious and cooling drink that will become your go to drink in the summer months. It is a popular drink that is enjoyed during the Hindu festivals of Holi, Mahashivaratri and Deepavali typically in the Northern parts of India. This thandai powder is full of nuts, spices and rose petals and cane be easily stored for quickly whipping up the drink.

Other Indian recipes that you may enjoy - Shikanji(Indian Spiced Lemonade), Bisi Bele Bath, Crispy Chilli Baby Corn, Indian Style Stuffed Peppers, Channa Saag

What is thandai?

It starts hotting up in India around February and Thandai which mean cool or cold in Hindi is the perfect antidote. I did not know much about thandai growing up in Southern India. I only heard about it when someone gifted a bottle of thandai syrupwhenduring my school says. I ended up drinking two huge glasses of milk + thandai. Let's just say I had a very long nap that afternoon 😉.

The sleeping agent was the poppy seeds which is one of the ingredients that goes in to making the thandai powder. t is one of the many ingredients that goes in to making this delicious powder. Just bring some milk or plant based milk to a boil and add the powder. Let it cook in the milk for 2-3 minutes before taking off the stove. My favorite way is to have it cold(it's delicious!) but you can also serve it warm.Chill for a couple of hours if serving it cold. If you want to avoid the gritty powder in the bottom, just strain the milk before serving.

Why you need to try this thandai powder?

• Thandai is truly one of a kind drink. Its delicious and cooling which is absolutely perfect for warmer days.
• This powder is easy to make and since it is in a powder form, can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer for a long time.
• Make the drink anytime since you will always have the powder on hand
• Use it make other desserts including phirni, kheer, cheesecake, kulfi, cake etc

Ingredients

Nuts - We will need unsalted raw or slightly roasted almonds, cashews and pistachios.

Spices - Fennel seeds, poppy seeds, saffron, black peppercorns, green cardamom and melon seeds are the spices we will use.

Rose Petals - I used dried organic edible grade rose petals. These are optional but I would highly recommend using them.

How to use thandai powder and storage tips

Heat up some milk/plant based milk on the stove or microwave. Add a tablespoon of thandai powder for each 8 oz(240 ml) of milk along with sugar/sweetener and mix well. You can also use a handheld frother to mix. To serve it cold, use chilled milk or chill the warmed up drink for a couple of hours. Serve topped with almond/pistachios slivers, dried rose petals and saffron strands.

Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks in a dry air tight container. You can also freeze this in a suitable dry container for up to 6 months. Just leave it out on the counter for an hour or so before using.

Did you give this thandai powder a try? Let me know below in the comments section about what you think. You can also follow along on social media at Pinterest,Facebook, Bluesky and Instagram.

Recipe