Thandai

Thandai is a super refreshing and delicious drink most commonly made and served during the spring season in India. It is a special beverage at many Holi parties around the spring summer season. It is made with grinding dry fruits on a stone mortar and pestle traditionally.

More traditional approach to summer drinks here roohafza, bael sherbet, lassi.

Summers always mean rich dry fruit & sugar syrup – commonly known as thandai in our household. Since making it at home is a very cumbersome process, it is now-a-days bought ready-made in most homes. You must be wondering why dry-fruits in summer. Well it is commonly acknowledged & accepted fact – dry-fruits if soaked overnight & then consumed, loose their heat properties & rather become cooler in nature. Upon this principle thandai has been made and consumed over the years.

The reason I ventured into making thandai at home was due to my mother-in-law’s illness last year. She was not allowed to consume outside food and needed the extra sugar, energy and coolness which will come with thandai, for her speedy recovery. So I sailed in uncharted waters. Last year was a success which kind of pushed me ;) into make it again this year :). After aam ka panna this is again from my mother’s recipe box.

Thandai –

Recipe Source – My Mother

Ingredients –

• 25 gms – Musk Melon Seeds
• 25 gms – Water Melon Seeds
• 25 gms – Poppy Seeds
• 25 gms – Almond
• 5 gms – White Pepper
• 10 gms – Fennel Seeds (Thin variety)
• 5-7 – Green Cardomom
• 10 gms – Rose Leaves
• 100 ml – Kevra Water
• 1.5 kgs – Sugar
• 500 ml – Water

Method –

1. Soak all ingredients  separately overnight in Kevra water, except sugar.
2. Remove almond skin.
3. Now using a mortar & pestle, grind all ingredients into a fine paste. Grind little of all ingredients together rather than one ingredient at a time. This ensures a finer paste.

Keep the paste aside.

In a wok, add water & sugar. Boil till all sugar melts.

Add the paste slowly into it. Ensure no lumps are formed. Mix well.

Turn off gas once the sugar melts & just before reaches the stage of 1 thread syrup.

When cool, store in an air-tight container.

Serve in chilled milk. No need to add extra sugar in milk. Enjoy!

If kept refrigerated it will last for 7-10 days easily.

This is one drink, which makes me forget the extra calories of sugar, dry fruits in it. This is a rich drink and really really leaves one feeling cool after a sip. Do try this.