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thandai recipe | Rajasthani thandai drink | Homemade thandai Holi and Diwali recipe | how to make thandai powder at home |

Tarla Dalal
11 March, 2022


Table of Content
thandai recipe | Rajasthani thandai drink | Homemade thandai Holi and Diwali recipe | how to make thandai powder at home | with 18 amazing images.
thandai recipe | Rajasthani thandai drink | Homemade thandai Holi and Diwali recipe | how to make thandai powder at home tastes absolutely heavenly, far superior to the readymade mixes available in the market. Learn how to make thandai powder at home.
To make the thandai, combine the saffron and 1 tbsp warm milk in a bowl and keep aside. Boil the milk in a deep non-stick pan or saucepan, add the sugar and mix well. Refrigerate the milk till cold. Keep aside. In a deep bowl, add almonds, cashews, pistachios, watermelon seeds, black peppercorns, fennel seeds, cinnamon, poppy seeds, cardamom, rose petals and enough water for atleast an hour. Drain well and do not discard the soaked water. Blend in a mixer using ¾ cup of soaked water till smooth. Combine the cold milk, prepared paste and saffron-milk mixture in a big mixer jar and blend till smooth. Drain using a strainer. Pour equal quantities of the thandai into 6 equal glasses. Serve the thandai chilled garnish with chopped pistachio and saffron strands.
Milk, energised with almonds and spices, Rajasthani thandai drink is the perfect drink to serve on special days and festive occasions like Holi and Diwali.
The aroma of fennel, cardamom, pepper and saffron of how to make thandai powder at home rise atop the dense flavour of fully boiled milk, to pamper the senses and rejuvenate the spirit. A mixture of these spices and nuts when blended, mixed with milk and kept aside for 2 hours blends beautifully with the milk.
You can strain the mixture before serving if you want it smooth, but if you like the coarse mouth-feel of ground almonds and poppy seeds, you can enjoy the Homemade thandai Holi and Diwali recipe as it is without straining. Serve it for parties or special festive occasions.
Tips for thandai. 1. Use of full fat milk is a must to enjoy thick thandai. 2. If you don’t have powdered sugar, grind the table sugar in a mixer and sieve it before use. 3. You can microwave the saffron in a microwave safe bowl for 10 to 15 seconds, crush it and then add it to the drink. This helps to lends a better colour of saffron to the drink.
Enjoy thandai recipe | Rajasthani thandai drink | Homemade thandai Holi and Diwali recipe | how to make thandai powder at home | with step by step photos below.
Thandai recipe - How to make Thandai
Tags
Preparation Time
10 Mins
Cooking Time
10 Mins
Total Time
20 Mins
Makes
6 glasses
Ingredients
For Thandai
4 1/2 cups full-fat milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup almond (badam)
1/2 cup cashew nuts (kaju)
1/2 cup pistachios
2 tbsp melon seeds (charmagaz)
10 whole black peppercorns (kalimirch)
1 1/2 tbsp fennel seeds (saunf)
1 small stick cinnamon (dalchini)
1 1/2 tbsp poppy seeds (khus-khus)
2 tbsp dry rose petals
1/2 tsp saffron (kesar) strands
1 tbsp warm milk
For The Garnish
4 tsp finely chopped pistachios
a few saffron (kesar) strands
Method
For thandai
- To make the thandai, combine the saffron and 1 tbsp warm milk in a bowl and keep aside.
- Boil the milk and sugar in a deep non-stick pan or saucepan.
- Refrigerate the milk till cold. Keep aside.
- In a deep bowl, add almonds, cashews, pistachios, watermelon seeds, black peppercorns, fennel seeds, cinnamon, poppy seeds, cardamom, rose petals and enough water for atleast 2 hours. Drain well and do not discard the soaked water.
- Blend in a mixer using ¾ cup of soaked water till smooth.
- Combine the cold milk, prepared paste and saffron-milk mixture in a big mixer jar and blend till smooth.
- Drain using a strainer.
- Pour equal quantities of the thandai into 6 equal glasses.
- Serve the thandai chilled garnish with chopped pistachio and saffron strands.
thandai recipe | Rajasthani thandai drink | Homemade thandai Holi, Diwali recipe | Video by Tarla Dalal
Thandai recipe with step by step photos
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- If you like thandai recipe | Rajasthani thandai drink | Homemade thandai Holi and Diwali recipe | how to make thandai powder at home | then also try other Indian drink recipes like
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Rajasthani thandai drink is made from 4 cups full-fat milk, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup almonds (badam), 1/2 cup cashew nuts (kaju), 1/2 cup pistachios, 2 tbsp watermelon (tarbuj) seeds, 10 whole black peppercorns (kalimirch), 1 1/2 tbsp fennel seeds (saunf), 1 small stick cinnamon (dalchini), 1 1/2 tbsp poppy seeds (khus-khus), 8 cardamoms (elaichi), 2 tbsp dry rose petals, 1/2 tsp saffron (kesar) strands and 1 tbsp warm milk. See below image of List of ingredients for thandai.
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Rajasthani thandai drink is made from 4 cups full-fat milk, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup almonds (badam), 1/2 cup cashew nuts (kaju), 1/2 cup pistachios, 2 tbsp watermelon (tarbuj) seeds, 10 whole black peppercorns (kalimirch), 1 1/2 tbsp fennel seeds (saunf), 1 small stick cinnamon (dalchini), 1 1/2 tbsp poppy seeds (khus-khus), 8 cardamoms (elaichi), 2 tbsp dry rose petals, 1/2 tsp saffron (kesar) strands and 1 tbsp warm milk. See below image of List of ingredients for thandai.
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In a deep bowl, add 1/2 cup almonds (badam).
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Add 1/2 cup cashew nuts (kaju).
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Add 1/2 cup pistachios.
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Add 2 tbsp watermelon (tarbuj) seeds.
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Add 10 whole black peppercorns (kalimirch).
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Add 1 1/2 tbsp fennel seeds (saunf).
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Add 1 small stick cinnamon (dalchini).
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Add 1 1/2 tbsp poppy seeds (khus-khus).
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Add 8 cardamoms (elaichi).
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Add 2 tbsp dry rose petals.
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Add enough water.
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Cover with a lid and keep aside to soak for 2 hours.
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This is how it looks after soaking.
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Drain well using a strainer. Do not throw the soaked water we need it for grinding.
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Transfer the soaked ingredients in a mixer jar, add ¾ cup of soaked water.
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Blend till smooth. This is how it looks after blending.
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In a deep bowl, add 1/2 cup almonds (badam).
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To make thandai recipe | Rajasthani thandai drink | Homemade thandai Holi and Diwali recipe | how to make thandai powder at home | take 1 tbsp warm milk in a small bowl.
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Add 1/2 tsp saffron (kesar) strands.
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Mix well. Keep aside.
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Take a big mixer jar. Add cold milk.
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Add prepared paste.
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Add saffron-milk mixture.
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Close the lid and blend till smooth.
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Drain using a strainer.
- Pour equal quantities of the thandai | Rajasthani thandai drink | Homemade thandai Holi and Diwali drink | into 6 equal glasses.
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Serve the thandai | Rajasthani thandai drink | Homemade thandai Holi and Diwali drink | how to make thandai powder at home | chilled garnish with chopped pistachio and saffron strands.
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To make thandai recipe | Rajasthani thandai drink | Homemade thandai Holi and Diwali recipe | how to make thandai powder at home | take 1 tbsp warm milk in a small bowl.
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The paste for thandai should be blended well till smooth.
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Dry rose petals will be available in big super markets and the remaining can be stored in the fridge or freezer , they lasts till long and can be used to decorate any Indian sweets.
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Make sure to use saffron of good quality.
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Use unsalted dry fruits for this recipe.
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The paste for thandai should be blended well till smooth.
Nutrient values (Abbrv)per plate
Energy | 384 cal |
Protein | 12.2 g |
Carbohydrates | 28.2 g |
Fiber | 1.4 g |
Fat | 24.8 g |
Cholesterol | 24.4 mg |
Sodium | 30.3 mg |
Click here to view Calories for Thandai
The Nutrient info is complete

Jaz
April 30, 2021, 8:54 p.m.
Sounds really yum. Eager to try it out. Can you confirm what measurement are you using for 1 cup. 250 ml or 150 ml.

Tarla Dalal
April 30, 2021, 8:54 p.m.
Hi Jaz: 1 cup is approx 200 to 250 ml

vrunda naik
Feb. 1, 2021, 1:20 p.m.
This is awesome recipe.My family loves this recipe.Thank u aunty for posting this recipe.

Mansi J
June 23, 2020, 12:38 p.m.
I always make this recipe of yours for diwali as a welcome drink for guests for my diwali house party..They always love it and is very refreshing!!keep putting such refreshing drinks up..

Rajesh Chandrakant Mahajan
March 28, 2017, 8:56 a.m.
Hi , my daughter playing tennis from last 8 yrs. She is 13 yrs completed her age. She is have her weight of 42 kg. I want to increase her weight and power. Let me know can Thandai improve her weight and power ? Please guide on priority.

Sonam
Sept. 18, 2016, 6:50 p.m.

Ramya sampath
Sept. 2, 2016, 2 p.m.
Hi mam tried yr recipe and it wad out of the world. You are amazing.

Tarla Dalal
Sept. 2, 2016, 2 p.m.
Hi Ramya, we are delighted you loved the recipe and it came out perfectly. Please keep posting your thoughts and feedback. Happy Cooking.

BANU
Aug. 30, 2016, 5:51 a.m.

Tarla Dalal
Aug. 30, 2016, 5:51 a.m.
Thanks Banu. We are delighted you loved the Thandai recipe. Please keep posting your thoughts and feedback. Happy Cooking.

Tanvi
Aug. 15, 2016, 7:45 a.m.
Hi to the team. Thanks a lot for the wonderful experience your website gives us. I refer to the site not less than at least 5 times every week. For simple everyday recipes as well as special recipes. I can''t thank tarladalal.com enough for such a big role it plays in my life. And i just finished making the thandai.. It''s a holi specialty in my house. Thanks a million.

Tarla Dalal
Aug. 15, 2016, 7:45 a.m.
Hi Tanvi. Its lovely comments like yours that brings a smile to the entire team of Tarla Dalal. Thanks for your kind words. Keep cooking and smiling and review the recipes you love.

Deepak kataria
June 5, 2016, 7:11 p.m.

Saral Mohan
April 4, 2016, 1:08 p.m.
Each to his own recipe, good.

natasha Samuel
Feb. 1, 2016, 9:32 a.m.
Hi Tarla greetings from sunny south Africa. The recipes exceed the mark of excellence.i have planned a trip to India in October to truly taste the authentic dishes of your country.do you have a restaurant. Well done your recipes have allowed me to host successful dinner parties.

Tarla Dalal
Feb. 1, 2016, 9:32 a.m.
Hi Natasha, thanks for your kind words and we are delighted you like our recipes. No we don''t have a restaurant. Please keep posting your thoughts and feedback. Happy Cooking.

Sweta
Jan. 30, 2016, 9:50 a.m.
Hi aunty....i tried your dabeli receipe and it was so great that everyone loved it.....

Tarla Dalal
Jan. 30, 2016, 9:50 a.m.
Hi Sweta, We are glad you enjoyed it. Do try more and more recipes and let us know how you liked them.

Raj shah
Sept. 14, 2015, 5:05 p.m.
V.v.good.

bhavik
Sept. 2, 2015, 10:04 a.m.
Thank you so much tarala ji for ur interesting recipes. It''s so High temperature in this summer. I would like to know some special recipes for cancer patients and for a person having accidentally cracked his bone of shoulder.i hope you will answer me as early as possible. Regards

Tarla Dalal
Sept. 2, 2015, 10:04 a.m.
Dear Bhavik... Thank you for the piece of appreciation. For cancer patients you can try recipes from the below section which are rich in antioxidants and increase immunity to fight cancer cells. http://www.tarladalal.com/recipes-for-forever-young-diet-recipes-for-increasing-immunity-513 To strengthen bones, look upon calcium and protein... Check out some recipe from links shared below. http://www.tarladalal.com/recipes-for-high-protein-695 http://www.tarladalal.com/recipes-for-calcium-rich-recipes-375

Anupam Singh
Sept. 1, 2015, 5:42 p.m.
wow!soo yummmyy...

Tarla Dalal
Sept. 1, 2015, 5:42 p.m.
Hi Anupam, We are so happy you loved the recipe. Do try more and more recipes and let us know how it turned out.

Nandini V S
Oct. 23, 2013, 1:25 a.m.
Your recipes are simply awesome.. Thanks for sharing the goodness! This was my humble attempt at making the Thandai.. www.purplevelvetproject.com/beverage-nonalcoholic-thandai/

chandra prakash
July 29, 2013, 11:27 a.m.

Deepa singh
June 21, 2013, 3:53 p.m.
Tried it on the occasion of shivratri.... Yummy.. loved it.

rajiv garg
June 8, 2013, 12:29 p.m.

Manisha
Dec. 5, 2012, 2:29 p.m.
I would Name u as my second Mom who helped me out learning such wonderful food....... my kids love my cooking inspired by u ........love u for everything mom ...........

Tarla Dalal
Dec. 5, 2012, 2:29 p.m.
Hi Manisha, It''s great to know that. Do try more and more recipes and let us know how you enjoyed them. Happy Cooking !!

Neeti Gupta
Oct. 9, 2012, 9:37 a.m.
Baadiyaa thandai

ratnq
Sept. 2, 2011, 1:56 p.m.
so tasty and yummy it''s a powerful energy drink

Tarla Dalal
Sept. 2, 2011, 1:56 p.m.
Thank You ratnq. Do keep trying the recipes and give us your feedback. Happy Cooking!!!?

Tarla Dalal
Sept. 2, 2011, 1:56 p.m.
Thank You ratnq. Do keep trying the recipes and give us your feedback. Happy Cooking!!!

Foodie #668545
Dec. 21, 2010, 11:50 a.m.