Thandai Powder Recipe (Thandai Masala)

What Is Thandai Powder?

Thandai powder (thandai masala, thandai drink mix) is a powdered mix made from ingredients used to prepare thandai, a popular North Indian drink. This drink is popularly made for Holi or Maha Shivratri.

Where a traditional thandai recipe requires hours of soaking whole nuts before grinding, this powdered version skips the wait entirely. You grind once, store it, and use it on demand.

Not only thandai, but you can also use thandai masala powder to make a variety of thandai-flavored desserts. Think thandai phirni, thandai shahi tukda, thandai kheer, or thandai mawa cake. All these recipes can be made with this powder ready.

Do try my thandai syrup recipe if you want to make instant thandai.

Why Make Thandai Powder At Home?

Making thandai powder at home is easy and quick, and the homemade powder is often superior to store-bought ones. The homemade powder is made with high-quality, natural ingredients and contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Homemade thandai powder is also sugar-free. If you want to make a sugar-free thandai, this one is for you.

Using this powder, you can make 10 glasses of thandai. Many times, I have made large batches of this powder, packed them into mini jars, and given them to my friends and family as Holi gifts.

How To Make Thandai Powder Recipe

Step 1: Add the following ingredients to a spice grinder or food processor.

• ½ cup whole almonds
• ½ cup whole cashew nuts
• 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
• 20-25 whole green cardamom
• 2 tablespoons white poppy seeds
• 2 tablespoons fennel seeds
• 2 tablespoons melon seeds
• 15-20 strands of saffron
• 2 tablespoons dried rose petals

You can also dry-roast almonds, cashews, peppercorns and green cardamom over low heat for 3-4 minutes before grinding with the rest of the ingredients to further enhance the flavor of the thandai powder.

Step 2: Grind until a fine powder is achieved. Do not over-grind; otherwise, the nuts will release their oil, and the powder will become sticky. Just pulse a few times. Then, let the mixture cool down for 5 minutes. Pulse again and keep cooling the mixture in between. Pulse until a powder is made.

Sift through a fine mesh sieve. Any coarse bits can go back in for a second grind. Use as desired.

Make Thandai Using Thandai Powder

• Heat full-fat milk in a pan over medium heat. To make this traditional drink vegan, you can use almond milk instead of dairy milk.
• Once the milk comes to a boil, add 1 tablespoon of thandai mix per cup and cook for 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to infuse.
• Add sugar to taste and cook for an additional minute to dissolve it.
• Refrigerate the milk for 1 to 2 hours, or until it is chilled. Refrigerating is also important for the flavors to seep into the milk, so do not skip this step.
• Strain it using a fine strainer, a nut milk bag, or a muslin cloth.
• Stir in a few drops of rose water and add a few ice cubes. Garnish with dried rose petals and serve chilled.

Can I Use Thandai Powder To Make Instant Thandai?

No, you should not. Many recipes online suggest mixing this powder and serving the thandai in just 5 minutes. But honestly, although you can technically do it, it will not be great.

The thandai powder’s flavors need to seep into the milk for a great-tasting thandai; to do that, boil it with milk for a while, then let it rest for 1-2 hours.

Thandai is also supposed to be very smooth. When powder is mixed with milk and served directly, the milk will have a gritty texture, which is not what Thandai is supposed to be.

Storage Suggestions

Store the powder in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week or refrigerate for up to 2 months.

You can also freeze it for up to a year.

A rancid or musty smell or oil seeping from the powder means the nuts have oxidized. Discard and make a fresh batch.