Celebrate Holi with Thandai, a Creamy, Refreshing Drink You’ll Fall in Love With

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 2 mins

Difficulty: Easy

Servings: 4 Servings

handai is a popular drink served during Holi (the festival of colors) and Mahashivratri. The refreshing beverage is made with a special blend of spices and nuts like almond, fennel, saffron, sugar, cardamom, and rose petals, which gets shaken with milk and served cold. The result is a luscious, creamy drink you’re sure to fall in love with.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons char magaz (melon seeds)
1 tablespoon white poppy seeds
2 teaspoons fennel seeds
2 teaspoons ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon saffron threads
1/4 cup raw almonds
1/4 cup raw cashews
1/4 cup raw pistachios
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups whole milk or unsweetened plant milk, divided
1/4 cup thandai masala, plus more for garnish
2 tablespoons maple syrup or sweetener of choice
2 ice cubes
Dried rose petals, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Make the thandai masala:
Place 2 tablespoons melon seeds, 1 tablespoon white poppy seeds, 2 teaspoons fennel seeds, 2 teaspoons ground cardamom, 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns, 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon saffron threads in a spice grinder and grind into a fine powder, about 20 seconds. Transfer to a medium bowl.
Grind the following one at a time in a spice grinder into a coarse powder, about 5 seconds each, and transfer to the bowl of spices: 1/4 cup almonds, 1/4 cup cashews, and 1/4 cup pistachios. Add 1 tablespoon granulated sugar and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt to nuts and spices and stir to combine.
Make the thandai milk:
To make the drink, bring 1/2 cup of the milk to a simmer in a small saucepan over low heat, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, add 1/4 cup of the thandai masala, and let steep for 5 minutes.
Pour into a high-speed blender, then add the remaining 1 1/2 cups milk, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, and 2 ice cubes. Blend for 30 seconds and pour into a glass. Alternatively, shake everything together in a cocktail shaker or sealed mason jar. Pour into glasses, sprinkle with more thandai masala and garnish with dried rose petals if desired, and serve immediately.