"Thandai" as the name depicts itself -Thanda or Cool. It's a North Indian beverage that had great significance in Indian society, especially on the occasion of "Holi" and "Maha Shivratri" Festivals. Both festivals are incomplete without "Thandai". My mom also used to make this cool refreshing summer drink during Holi and all the guests used to admire it a lot.
In Indian homes, it's a regular summer drink to make as it's a perfect cooler, in which milk is infused with the benefits of dry nuts, seeds, and saffron. It's very rich in nutrition, and flavor and therefore most preferred by moms for their growing kids. Must say- it's a healthy cold drink for summer for all age groups.
Though you can find alternatives from various brands in the market, the homemade one stands out tall in terms of its original flavor and richness.
Also Read: Easy Healthy Veg Broccoli Almond Soup Recipe
All Thandai ingredients make this summer drink highly nutritious, flavorsome, and tasty. Let's check on them how?
Almonds: Rich in fiber, protein, vitamins, and other nutrients and considered the best of all dry nuts. Intake of soaked almonds is commonly seen in almost every home. It's a perfect dry fruit to consume when you are looking for weight loss diet options. It's one of the main ingredients of Thandai.
Cashew: Good source of copper magnesium and manganese which are vital for producing energy, bone-building, and immunity. People generally avoid consuming regularly thinking they may gain weight, but a substantial amount of cashew is actually good for health. Many people don't like it in Thandai but I can't resist cashew because of its flavor and the texture it provides to the drink.
Melon seeds: The most unexplored seeds are extremely beneficial in terms of carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins. You will be surprised to know that you needn't buy them. In fact, you can stock them in summer by extracting them from the musk melons you eat. My mother takes out the melon seeds every summer season, cleans, and peels them at home.
Pistachio: This is one of its kind as it's a power pack of fiber, mineral, and unsaturated fat which is very good to keep a check on blood sugar, blood level, and cholesterol. Intake of this dry fruit in form of drinks, snacks, and sweets helps in lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Fennel seeds: These are very good for intestine muscle relaxation. It's very helpful in relieving gastric and constipation problems. The presence of Anethol in fennel seed makes it more beneficial. So, by adding them to a regular diet we can improve heart health, suppress appetite, and reduce inflammation. You can also eat roasted fennel seeds after a meal for a great taste.
White peppercorn: This much-ignored ingredient has several health benefits. It's good for pain relief, weight loss, cough, and cold, headache, eyes, and so on. The inclusion of little quantity of this powder is really good for overall health. The main purpose of including white peppercorn in place of black one in Thandai is its unique acrid flavor and amazing health benefits.
Poppyseed: Poppy seeds are available in three variants - white, oriental, and blue poppy seed. In India, we usually find white poppy seeds and you can use them in gravies, and drinks as it adds very good flavor to all cuisines. They seem tiny but have enormous secret health benefits. Good for women's fertility, bones, and eyes. Also helps in treating kidney stones and ulcers.
Healthy ingredients like a rose petal, green cardamom, and saffron add color, freshness, and flavors to this summer cooler with their own secret benefits.
Overview
Preparation time: 15 mins Total time: 15 mins Serve: 10 Course: Beverages
Ingredients
Mix-1
- Almonds-1cup
- Cashew-1/4 cup (optional)
- Pistachio- 1/4 cup
- Muskmelon seed-1/2 cup
- Sugar-2 tablespoon (optional)
Mix-2
- Fennel seed- 1cup
- Poppy seeds (khuskhus)- 1/4 cup
- Green cardamom- 15-20
- White peppercorn- 1 and 1/2 tablespoon
- Saffron strands-1 teaspoon
- Dried rose petals- 1/4 cup
- Sugar-2 tablespoon (optional)
Note Sun-dry all the ingredients of mix-1 and mix-2 for around 1-2 hours before starting the process of grinding.
Others
- Cold milk- 4 cups
- Sugar powder- 2 teaspoons (as per taste)
- Ice cubes- 1 bowl
Recipe To Prepare
Step-1
Step-2
Grind them generously in a grinder to make a thin coarse powder.
Step-3
Take all the ingredients of mix-2 (as mentioned above) like Saunf, Green Illachi, Green cardamom, peppercorn, dry leaves, and saffron with or without sugar.
Step-4
Now, generously grind them as a fine powder.
Step-5
- Mix both powders well.
- Sieve from the strainer once and then grind the left coarse powder again for fine powder.
Tip: After sieving, keep it open for 1 hour and then you can store it. Fill it in an air-tight jar and store it in a freezer for 2-3 months.
Step-6
You can make Thandai in two ways using the same powder:
First
Take 2 teaspoons of Thandai powder. Add 1 tablespoon sugar powder ( or as per taste) and then add chilled milk. Mix well with an electrical hand blender for better and even blending. Add ice cubes. Embellish the authentic drink with saffron, pistachio, and dry rose petals and serve.
Take 2 teaspoons of powder with 1 tablespoon of sugar (or as per taste). Add them to a 1/4 cup of room temperature milk and leave it for 1 hour.
Once it's soaked and diluted, add the paste directly into the cold milk. Mix well and serve garnished with rose petals, pistachio, and saffron.
Tip: The same Thandai powder masala can also be used in desserts like Rasmalai, Cakes, Pastries, and Puddings.
