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Close up look of A glass of Thandai with garnish of saffron and rose petals.

Homemade Thandai Concentrate and Masala Powder

Thandai is a refreshingly sweet and spicy drink popular during Holi made using Thandai Concentrate using nuts and spices, and is free from processed sugar.
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Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Indian, North Indian
Keyword: Milk / Condensed Milk / Evaporated Milk / Milk Powder, Nuts / Dried Fruit, Spices, Sugar Free
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Soaking Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 250 ml Concentrate
Author: Renu Agrawal-Dongre

Equipment

Ingredients

  • ¼ Cup Almonds
  • 3 tablespoon poppy seeds
  • 1 tablespoon Peppercorns
  • 3 tablespoon Fennel seeds
  • 2 tablespoon Green Cardamom
  • 3 tablespoon Melon Seeds (can be replaced by Sunflower / Watermelon / Pumpkin seeds)
  • 3 tablespoon Raisins

To Assemble Thandai

  • Milk
  • Sugar as required (When using Thandai Masala Powder or if needed in extra)

To garnish (Optional)

  • Chopped almonds
  • Few Saffron Strands
  • Edible Rose Petals

Instructions

To make Thandai Concentrate

  • Remove the seeds from the cardamom pods. The skin or the peel can be added to tea for flavour.
  • In a single bowl or individual bowls soak the almonds, poppy seeds, peppercorns, fennel seeds, green cardamom seeds and melon seeds and raisins for at least 2 hours.
    Soaked Nuts & Spices
  • Once soaked peel the almonds. You can simply press the almond in between your fingers to remove the peel.
  • Remove water from all in a separate bowl. Do not discard the water as it has a lot of flavour and taste in it. We will use it in grinding.
  • In a grinder jar, add in the almonds, poppy seeds, peppercorns, fennel seeds, green cardamom seeds, melon seeds and raisins.
  • Grind this to a smooth paste. Add little by little water while grinding to help make a smooth paste. Use the water you soaked the nuts and seeds in.
  • Pass this into a sieve or a cheese/muslin cloth.
  • Grind the residue again to a smooth paste using more water.
  • You might have to repeat the process 2-3 times.
  • Once you are left with little to very little residue you are done.
  • Store the concentrate in an air-tight clean and sterilise bottle in the fridge.

To make Thandai Masala Powder

  • Remove the seeds from the cardamom pods. The skin or the peel can be added to tea for flavour.
  • In a heavy bottom pan dry roast each of the ingredients individually. I.e. Almonds, poppy seeds, peppercorns, fennel seeds, green cardamom seeds and melon or sunflower seeds.
  • Remove it on a plate.
  • Once they are cooled completely grind it to a fine powder.
  • One can pass the powder through a sieve or use it as is.

Assembling

    Using Thandai Concentrate

    • While using the concentrate, use 1 part of concentrate and 3 parts of chilled milk. The ratio of concentrate can be less too.
    • As it is sweetened with raisins it is mildly sweet. One can add more sugar if required.
    • Garnish with chopped almonds, Saffron and Edible Rose Petals.

    Using Thandai Masala Powder

    • Add 2-3 tablespoon of Thandai masala powder in a glass.
    • Add 1 tablespoon of sugar/sweetener of choice and chilled milk. Mix.
    • Garnish with chopped almonds, Saffron and Edible Rose Petals.

    Video

    Notes

    • 1 teaspoon = 5 ml, 1 tablespoon=15 ml, 1 Cup=235 ml
    • The quantity of ingredients can be changed
    • For Variations, sweetener and storage options read above
    • I have made a video of step by step process, hence pics are missing.
     
     
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    Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist. The nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It varies depending upon the product types or brands.