2tablespoonswhite poppy seedsskip if not available
2tablespoonsfennel seeds (saunf)
2tablespoonsmelon seeds (kharbooje ke beej)
15-20saffron strands
2tablespoonsdry rose petals optional but recommended
Instructions
Add almonds, cashew nuts, black peppercorns, green cardamoms, white poppy seeds, fennel seeds, melon seeds, saffron strands and dried rose petals to the medium jar of a grinder or food processor and grind to make a smooth powder.
Note - You can also dry roast the ingredients for 3-4 minutes on low flame before grinding to enhance their flavor even more.
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.
Store the powder in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
To make Thandai using Thandai powder, heat milk in a pan over medium heat. Once the milk comes to a boil, add 1 tablespoon of Thandai masala powder per cup of milk and cook for 2-3 minutes for the flavors to seep into the milk. Add sugar to taste and cook for another minute for it to dissolve. Refrigerate the milk for 1-2 hours or until chilled. Strain it using a fine-mesh strainer or a muslin cloth. Stir in a few drops of rose water. Garnish with dried rose petals and serve chilled.