What is Thandai?
This is a classic Indian drink that is specially prepared during Holi festival and then it keeps showing up all through Spring and Summer. Traditionally bhang is added in Thandai. Bhang is made from the bud, leaves and flowers of the female cannabis. It is added in a small quantity when preparing Thandai and is known to create mild hallucination. My Recipe has no bhang and it’s just purely aromatic and rich. Kids will love it too. All I used to prepare this milk based drink is my homemade Thandai powder, milk, pinch of saffron and rose water.
Here is the link to my homemade easy Thandai Powder
Can you prepare this drink using dairy free milk?
Oh yes! You can use oat milk, almond milk or your choice of plant based milk.
Making in advance and Storing Thandai
The nut spice Powder can be store in a clean dry airtight jar. You don’t need to store in the refrigerator unless it very and humid where you live. As for the Thandai Drink, I would highly recommend making a day in advance and store in the refrigerator as the flavors blend better overnight. The drink can be kept for few days in the refrigerator.
Are there health benefit ?
Thandai is not only a refreshing thirst quencher, it comes with a few health benefit too. Because of the all the nuts and spices that goes in making the Thandai powder, the drink helps to boost immunity, cool down your body during brutal summer and aids in digestion.
Can you prepare it without making the powder?
Yes! Making the powder makes it easy and quick to prepare the drink. The traditional way is done little differently where they soak almond and then peel off the skin. The rest of the spice and nuts is then grinding with some milk to make a smooth paste like consistency. It is then simmered with milk along with rose water, sugar and saffron stands until the flavor blends in.
I told you two different ways to prepare Thandai and I prefer to make the spice powder in advance so I can use it to prepare not only the milk based drink but also cake, cookies, and other variety of desserts.
