Thandai is a traditional Indian drink made with milk, sugar, and a unique spice mix called thandai masala. Follow my thandai recipe to make the best thandai for Holi. Be sure to watch the video!

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What is Thandai?

Thandai or sardai means ‘cooling’ in Hindi. Milk is the key ingredient in a thandai, whereas the flavour comes from the thandai masala.

It is a traditional Indian drink for the summer season, packed with nuts and spices, and infused with the aromatics like saffron and rose. You can also make thandai in different flavours – kesar thandai, paan flavoured thandai , mango thandai, or any other delicious flavour you like.

Thandai and kesar mawa gujiya are an essential part of the Holi festival celebration.

Apart from Holi, you can enjoy a glass of Thandai at any time of the year. Trust me; your body will thank you for this delight when the mercury soars.

Health Benefits of Thandai according to health experts:

  • It is an excellent energy booster, especially during the summer season.
  • It aids in digestion and immensely helps in cooling down the body.
  • It is also a sort of anti-depressant and helps in improving mood swings.
  • It is a fantastic immunity booster and keeps you safe from heat strokes.
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Homemade Thandai Powder

We have a tried and tested thandai powder recipe that you can easily store for 3 – 6 months and use in a million creative ways to flavour Indian desserts .

It is a dry masala powder with nuts, spices, seeds, and aromatics such as saffron and rose.

The best part about the homemade thandai masala is – it is unadulterated.

You are 100% assured about the quality of the drink and its medicinal benefits. And the whole making process is pretty straightforward and fuss-free.

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Ingredients Required

You need only 3 ingredients for this thandai recipe:

Thandai Masala: You can make it at home from scratch or use the ready-made one.

Milk: Full-fat milk is the best to make thandai. For a vegan thandai, you can use almond milk.

Sugar: Granulated white sugar. Many thandai pre-mix also has added sugar. So adjust the quantity of sweetener in your thandai accordingly.

Watch Thandai Video

Serving Suggestion

Serve thandai chilled, or add a few ice cubes to the glass before pouring the drink. It is one of those drinks that does not taste warm or at room temperature.

After making the thandai, allow it to cool down completely and then keep it in the fridge to chill for at least 1 hour before serving.

Holi Special Classic Thandai - 4

More Indian Drink Recipes

  • Aam Panna
  • Mango Lassi
  • Kesar Basundi
  • Sugarcane Juice
  • Khas Khas Badam Milk
  • Indian Spiced Buttermilk (Chaas)

If you try this recipe and love it, please leave a comment and a rating. This helps us grow and reach other food lovers like you.

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Ingredients

  • ▢ 500 ml full fat milk
  • ▢ 2 teaspoon thandai masala ( see recipe )
  • ▢ 1 tablespoon granulated white sugar or to taste

Instructions

  • Combine ¼ cup of room temperature milk with the thandai masala. Mix nicely to dissolve the masala in the milk. Keep it aside.
  • Next, add the remaining milk to a saucepan. Turn on the heat. Bring the milk to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Keep stirring the milk while simmering it over low heat for 5 minutes.
  • After 5 minutes, add the thandai and milk paste. Stir to mix it nicely into the simmering milk. Keep the flame at the lowest setting.
  • Keep simmering the milk until it thickens a bit and is reduced to almost half of the original amount.
  • Once the milk starts thickening, add sugar, and stir to dissolve it into the milk. Turn off the heat. Thandai is ready.
  • Filter it into a jug or a wide pan to cool down before keeping it in the refrigerator. Allow it to chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
  • Serve thandai chilled.

Recipe Notes:

  • Adjust the amount of sugar according to personal taste preference.
  • Allow thandai to cool down before serving. It is best to keep it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.
  • While boiling the milk you can add saffron strands as well.

Nutrition

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Thandai Recipe

Equipment

  • Saucepan
  • Seive/Filter
  • Jug

Ingredients

  • 500 ml full fat milk
  • 2 teaspoon thandai masala ( see recipe )
  • 1 tablespoon granulated white sugar or to taste

Instructions

  • Combine ¼ cup of room temperature milk with the thandai masala. Mix nicely to dissolve the masala in the milk. Keep it aside.
  • Next, add the remaining milk to a saucepan. Turn on the heat. Bring the milk to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Keep stirring the milk while simmering it over low heat for 5 minutes.
  • After 5 minutes, add the thandai and milk paste. Stir to mix it nicely into the simmering milk. Keep the flame at the lowest setting.
  • Keep simmering the milk until it thickens a bit and is reduced to almost half of the original amount.
  • Once the milk starts thickening, add sugar, and stir to dissolve it into the milk. Turn off the heat. Thandai is ready.
  • Filter it into a jug or a wide pan to cool down before keeping it in the refrigerator. Allow it to chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
  • Serve thandai chilled.

Video

Notes

  • Adjust the amount of sugar according to personal taste preference.
  • Allow thandai to cool down before serving. It is best to keep it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.
  • While boiling the milk you can add saffron strands as well.

Nutrition

The festival of colours, Holi , is all about celebrating the spring season. We have a collection of the best Holi Recipes and expert planning tips to make your celebration memorable.

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The Festival of Holi

Holi is one of the most popular Indian festivals after Diwali . It is also known as the festival of colours. It is mainly celebrated in North, Central, and Western India.

People play with colours and water, along with tons of good food in the company of family and friends.

The festival of Holi is all about welcoming the spring ( Basant Ritu ) and harvesting season in India. And like many other Indian festivals, food is an integral part of the Holi celebration.

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My Tips For Hosting Holi Party

Festivals are a great time to unite, share good food and fun moments, and make memories.

As with any event, planning (or at least a little in advance) is the key to success.

Here’s a list of things to plan a perfect Holi party:

Party Theme : Holi is all about joy and colours, so choose a fun theme for the guest. A few popular ones are – the Bollywood theme, Banaras Ki Holi theme, colour-based themes, Chaat party theme , and so on.

Whatever theme you choose, remember that your food, music, and decor must revolve around the theme.

The theme gives your Holi party synchronization, makes menu planning much easier, and leaves a long-lasting impression on the guest.

You can design hand-written invites or make digital ones using mobile apps like Canva, Picasa, Keynote, etc. which have a lot of options for beginners to try their hand at designing.

Some fun decor ideas for the Holi party:

  • Chalkboard menu or colourful poster announcing the menu
  • Paper plates and cups in striking colours/designs.
  • Buffet arrangement of chaat and drinks
  • Big bowls of colour/flower petals around the place so that multiple guests can reach in at once
  • Try to use organic and safe colours to celebrate the festival. Alternately, you can play with flower petals and organic mixes of sandalwood and fuller’s earth ( Multani mitti ) – these are great for the skin.
  • Fun/disposable sunglasses available for guest selfies

Party Music: There is no memorable Holi party without good music. Prepare the playlist well in advance, choose some fun Bollywood numbers to play (there are Holi playlists on Youtube as well) , or have one person be the designated DJ for the day. The karaoke Holi party is also fun and interactive.

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Must-Try Holi Recipes

Holi is all about good food. It is always best to keep the Holi party menu fun and hearty by adding classic favourites and fusion flavours. A potluck is also a great idea for the Holi party.

Prepare the pre-made snacks and thandai powder a few days in advance . Finish the prep work for other dishes a night before the party and put your partner in charge of the drinks station.

Here are 40+ Holi Recipes that you must try at home .

Holi Snack Recipes

Dilli Style Aloo Tikki Chaat is one of my favourite Holi recipes. Get Recipe

Aloo Tikki Chaat is a delicious Indian street food of crisp potato patties loaded with curd, chutney, and spices - 10 side shot of moradabadi moong dal in a bowl - 11

Serve Moong Dal Chaat as a lip-smacking vegetarian snack for Holi Party. Get Recipe

Papdi Chaat is a must-try Holi recipe . Get Recipe

aerial shot of dahi papdi chaat in a cream color ceramic platter - 12 Side shot of bread basket chaat on a black tray. - 13

Have you ever tried making chaat using bread? Try this Bread Basket Chaat . Get Recipe

Lobia Chaat is a delicious, healthy chaat recipe made with black-eyed peas (lobia) and vegetables. Get Recipe

Lobia Chaat With Toasted Peanuts, Pomegranate Seeds - 14 Chinese Bhel Recipe - 15

Chinese Bhel or crispy noodle chaat is a perfect munching snack for Holi party. Get Recipe

Matar Chaat or Ghugni is a delicious vegetarian, one-pot Holi recipe. Get Recipe

Matar Ki Ghugni - 16 aerial shot of paneer tikka skewers stacked on a vintage platter - 17

This is the best restaurant-style Paneer Tikka Recipe made at home. Get Recipe

Gobi Tikka is one of the best ways to stuff yourself with the goodness of cauliflower. Get Recipe

side close up shot of gobi tikka in a black serving platter - 18 side close up shot of kele ke kebab arranged in a platter - 19

Serve Kele (banana) Ke Kebab with mint chutney and sliced onions for snacks. Get Recipe

Dahi Vada brings everyone so much joy that it would be criminal not to indulge in them on Holi. Get Recipe

Dahi Vada Chaat - 20 Aerial shot of suji cutlet in a black tray with green chutney on the side. - 21

Cheese Rava Cutlet is a delicious vegetarian snack made with suji (semolina). Get Recipe

Mixed Vegetable Cutlet is an all-time favourite teatime snack. Get Recipe

side shot of mixed vegetable cutlet along with ketchup in a bowl - 22 Corn Paneer Cutlet in a Black Tray With Green Chutney Blur In The Background - 23

Paneer Cutlet has a mouth-melting texture with a perfect crunch of corn kernels. Get Recipe

Potato Cheese Balls are a crisp, cheesy, and crunchy Holi party snack. Get Recipe

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These Cheese Batata Vada are the perfect Holi snack for a potato lover like me. Get Recipe

Serve mini Dal Samosa with a variety of chutneys as a delicious Holi snack. Get Recipe

Moong Dal Mini Samosa - 26 Matar Kachori Recipe - 27

Matar Kachori is more than just a snack, it’s a feeling of pure ambrosia . Get Recipe

This Mathri Recipe is super tasty, with a hint of crushed fenugreek leaves. Get Recipe

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Nimki is always a favourite munching snack for the festive season. Get Recipe

Crisp and crunchy Aloo Pakora makes a perfect snack for Holi. Get Recipe

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Cheese-stuffed mirch pakoda or chilli bajji perfectly satisfies fried food cravings. Get Recipe

Whole Wheat Khasta Kachori stuffed with dal filling. Get Recipe

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Corn Chaat is an easy and tasty snack for a Holi party. Get Recipe

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chaat is a guilt-free snack . Get Recipe

side shot of sweet potato chaat served on a paper plate - 34 aerial shot of crispy chana served on a white ceramic bowl - 35

Crispy Chickpeas are a delicious, crunchy, and healthy snack. Get Recipe

Nothing can beat classic Peanut Chaat, when it comes to snacks for Holi parties. Get Recipe

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Broccoli Malai Tikka is a fantastic vegetarian snack for parties. Get Recipe

Spicy Murmura is one of the easiest pre-made Holi recipes. Get Recipe

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Holi Drink Recipes

Holi Special Thandai - 39

This Thandai Recipe will help you make super delicious thandai at home for Holi from scratch. Get Recipe

Paan Thandai is a chilled and refreshing flavour of the classic thandai . Get Recipe

side shot of paan thandai in a glass - 40 side shot of basundi in a glass - 41

Basundi is a traditional Indian sweet drink made with milk, dry fruits, and saffron. Get Full Recipe

This Aam Panna recipe is super simple to follow and requires less than 20 minutes. Get Full Recipe

Side shot of aam ka panna in a glass garnished with mint leaves. - 42 A home brewed iced tea with orange flavor - 43

Make a large batch of this Orange Iced Tea to quench thirst while celebrating Holi. Get Full Recipe

Mango Lassi is the perfect drink to make on the occasion of Holi. Get Full Recipe

Easy Indian Mango Lassi Recipe - 44 Indian Spiced Buttermilk in 3 Flavors - 45

A tall glass of Masala Chaas is a refreshing and fabulous digestive drink. Get Full Recipe

Virgin Mango Mojito is a refreshing non-alcoholic summer drink perfect for Holi festival . Get Full Recipe

An alcohol free refreshing mango mojito - 46 side close up shot of badam milk in a glass mug - 47

Badam Milk is an Indian drink made with almonds, milk, and sugar. Get Recipe

Instagram Famous Sugarcane Juice is indeed the best drink for a Holi party. Get Recipe

Thandai Recipe - 48

Holi Main-Course Recipes

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If you are looking for a traditional Chicken Curry recipe for Holi, bookmark this one. Get Recipe

Mathura Style Aloo Ki Sabzi with poori is a popular main course choice for Holi party. Get Recipe

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Who could resist the temptation of Punjabi Rajma Chawal on a festive occasion? Get Recipe

Delhi Style Chana Masala is perfect for dipping naan, poori, chapati, or jeera rice. Get Recipe

Aerial shot of Indian chole in an oval white serving bowl - 52 Keema Matar Recipe - 53

Mutton Keema Curry is undoubtedly one of our favourite Holi recipes. Get Recipe

The simple and unique flavours of Punjabi Kadhi Pakora never fail to impress . Get Recipe

Kadhi Pakora is a gluten-free Indian curry prepared with gram flour and yogurt (curd). - 54 Matar Kulcha Recipe - 55

The combination of Matar Kulcha is a must-try at the festival of Holi. Get Recipe

Dhaba Style Matar Paneer with naan will take your Holi celebration up a notch. Get Recipe

Dhaba Style Matar Paneer - 56 Soya Chaap Tikka Masala - 57

If you are bored of paneer makhani then Soya Chaap Tikka Masala is the perfect Holi Recipe for you. Get Recipe

Pahadi Style Potato Fry will add great variety to your Holi menu. Get Recipe

aerial shot of aloo gutka in a cast iron skillet - 58 Thandai Recipe - 59

Vegetable Pulao is a perfect one-pot meal for a large gathering. Get Recipe

Rajasthani Kadhi is a perfectly comforting main course for a Holi party. Get Recipe

Thandai Recipe - 60 aerial shot of soya chaap masala in a kadhai - 61

Punjabi Soya Chaap Masala — the ultimate vegetarian comfort food. Get Recipe

This Chicken Pulao is easy to make and big on flavours. Get Recipe

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An Indian thali meal for festivals is a testament to the grandeur of our heritage and rich food culture.

If you want a festive Indian thali meal idea, try my 10 Indian festival Thali Meals .

The festive menu is different from the everyday Indian meal . It is rich, and indulgent, mainly including regional dishes and traditional recipes.

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Holi Dessert Recipes

Gujiya is a traditional Indian sweet made on the festival of colours – Holi. Get Recipe

Holi Special Homemade Ghujia - 64 aerial shot of phirni in a wooden bowl garnished with nuts and saffron - 65

Serve Phirni chilled for a delicious Mughlai style Holi dessert. Get Recipe

The Kesar Pista Kulfi is the best way to beat the heat while enjoying Holi. Get Recipe

Aerial shot of two kesar pista kulfi on a black tray filled with crushed ice. - 66 aerial shot of nariyal laddo in a stainless steel round plate - 67

Instant Coconut Ladoo is the tastiest and easiest dessert for Holi. Get Recipe

You will be surprised to know that only 5 – ingredients are required to make this Paneer Kheer. Get Recipe

Indian Food Recipes - 68 Side shot of mango ice cream scoops in a white serving bowl. - 69

This 3 Ingredient Mango Ice Cream is always a super hit at my Holi party. Get Recipe

Makhana Phirni Parfait is the most stylish and elegant Holi recipe. Get Recipe

side close up shot of phirni parfait in a glass - 70 Aerial shot of mango shrikhand - 71

A bowl of chilled Mango Shrikhand will never fail to impress your guest on Holi. Get Recipe

These homemade jalebis will remain crisp for hours and taste delicious . Get Recipe

side close up shot of jalebi in a black platter - 72 Mint Pineapple Popsicles - 73

Mint Pineapple Popsicles are topping the flavour chart on Holi . Get Recipe

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