Thandai is a milk-based, well-balanced, refreshing summer beverage that is believed to treat ailments related to excessive body heat. It is also a summer drink as it is an instant energizer in the scorching summer heat. This drink is very flavourful and healthy. In fact, most of its ingredients are nutritious. It has a base of nuts and seeds that act as a nerve tonic. The herbs, spices and flowers used are all reportedly cooling and hydrating.
The most important ingredients of Thandai are milk, almond, aniseed, fennel seeds, peppercorns, watermelon seeds, rose petals, cardamom, poppy seeds, saffron and khus-khus.
Traditionally, a mixture of all the ingredients is made with a mortar and pestle. It is ground till fine and smooth on the silbatta (the flat stone mortar and pestle) and sieve this paste through muslin while diluting the mixture with sweetened milk.
I am lucky to have homemade Thandai masala, that too made by an expert. Its Usha aunty’s special Thandai masala. She is my friend’s mom, who is a genius when it comes to the kitchen and food. She holds an ocean of authentic recipes with-in her and I am so so glad to share her very special homemade Thandai masala recipe with you here.
Ingredients
50 gms Almonds
25 gms Pistachios
25 gms Watermelon seeds
25 gms Poppy Seeds
25 gms Fennel Seeds
10 gms Green Cardamom
10 gms Black Pepper
Few threads of Saffron
1.5 Litres Milk
150 gms Sugar
25 gms Rose Petals
Method
- Take Almonds, Pistachios, Watermelon seeds, Poppy Seeds, Green cardamons, fennel seeds, pepper and rose petals in a bowl together.
- Grind all the ingredients into a powder.
- Soak the powder either in milk or water into a bowl for 3-4 hours.
- Grind the powder into a smooth paste.
- Take a big pan and pour milk into it. Make it boil.
- Add sugar to the boiled milk and stir.
- Once the milk cools down, keep it in the refrigerator to cool.
- Later add saffron to the milk (saffron also to be mixed with little milk to make it into a smooth paste)
- For each glass, Take abt 3-4 spoons of the paste, add milk and ice if required and stir it well.
- Garnish with almond and rose petals.
- Serve chilled.
Thandai Mawa Muffins
Thandai icecream
Authentic Thandai Masala Recipe
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 50 gm Almonds https://amzn.to/2TlVS0o
- 25 gm Pistachio https://amzn.to/2IlsCQI
- 25 gm Watermelon seeds https://amzn.to/3ariQZE
- 25 gm Poppy Seeds https://amzn.to/3cxNUZE
- 25 gm fennel seeds https://amzn.to/2TzAtj4
- 10 gm black pepper https://amzn.to/2Ie5AeR
- 1 gm Few threads of Saffron https://amzn.to/2vFjtzZ
- 1.5 L milk
- 150 gm sugar
- 25 gm rose petal
Instructions
- Take Almonds, Pistachios, Watermelon seeds, Poppy Seeds, Green cardamons, fennel seeds, pepper and rose petals in a bowl together.
- Grind all the ingredients into a powder. Soak the powder either in milk or water into a bowl for 3-4 hours.
- Grind the powder into a smooth paste. Take a big pan and pour milk into it. Make it boil. Add sugar to the boiled milk and stir. Once the milk cools down, keep it in the refrigerator to cool.
- Later add saffron to the milk (saffron also to be mixed with little milk to make it into a smooth paste)For each glass, Take abt 3-4 spoons of the paste, add milk and ice if required and stir it well.
- Garnish with almond and rose petals. Serve chilled.