Holi is a festival of colours and a time to celebrate love, friendship and happy moments together. This festival always takes me back to childhood when it was more about having fun with my siblings and neighborhood friends. I miss those days of imagination, creativity, and laughter. I also miss festival food made by my mom especially her gujiya (you can see gujiya recipe which I shared earlier) and chilled thandai. I am sharing my mom’s thandai recipe for Holi with you all.

Thandai is a yummy milk-based drink with a lot of dry fruits in it. It is usually made in summers as it is supposed to be coolant. It is a popular drink in North India and people make it mostly during Holi and Shivratri.

Also, read – 5 Tips to play a safe Holi with kids

Image by Saahib from Pixabay

Benefits of Thandai  –

All the benefits of thandai are because of all the rich ingredients used in its recipe.

  1. Coolant – Due to the presence of fennel seeds, watermelon seeds, and chilled milk, it is a coolant and that’s why popular as a summer drink which can help to keep you cool from inside during summers.
  2. Digestive – This thandai recipe for Holi helps in digestion too. Fennel seeds need no introduction and as you all know, it is beneficial in indigestion and bloating.
  3. Energy booster – As it full of energy giving dry fruits, one glass is an energy booster in itself and also makes you feel full.
  4. Good for immunity – Pepper in thandai boosts immunity due to its antibacterial properties. Thandai is also beneficial as a detoxifier due to green cardamom used in it. 

Thandai recipe for Holi – Thandai recipe for Holi

Ingredients

Few peppercorns

Few saffron strands

1/4 cup almonds

¼ cup raisins

¼ cup watermelon seeds
2 tbsp poppy seeds
2 tbsp fennel seeds (saunf)
1/2 tsp green cardamom (elaichi)

2-3 cups milk chilled (depends on your requirements)
sugar (powdered preffereably)  – According to taste.

Few rose petals (fresh)

Method 

  1. First of all, soak all the dry fruits and black peppercorns and elaichi in water for at least 2 hours.
  2. Blend together to a smooth paste and add sugar in it.
  3. Now there are two ways – If you want to consume immediately, you can mix with the chilled milk and strain it and drink.
  4. If the milk is not chilled, Just mix the prepared powder and milk in a bowl, mix well using a whisk and refrigerate for 2 hours.
  5. If you are planning to drink it later, you can store the paste in the refrigerator and mix in a glass of chilled milk and consume.
  6. Pour it in glasses and enjoy chilled thandai with your family and friends this Holi.

Notes –

You can use any milk if you are allergic to normal milk.

You can refrigerate the dry fruit mixture for 24 hours and use it later.

Make sure you soak all the dry fruits for at least 2-4 hours.

If you don’t like any chunks of dry fruits in the milk, make sure to grind it to a very smooth paste before using.

Here is an interesting video about facts about Holi – 

This post is a part of the #HoliHoppers blog hop hosted by Madhavi , Dipika ,Ruchie , Aesha and sponsored by VLCC Beauty Products & Phutawan Thailand”

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