Thandai

Indian cold drink

Thandai

Alternative names| Sardai
Course| Beverage
Place of origin| India, Pakistan
Serving temperature| Chilled or sometimes hot
Main ingredients| Milk key ingredient, cardamom, almonds, sugar, and saffron, cannabinoids (bhang thandai only)
Variations| Rose thandai, Mango thandai, Badaam kesar thandai, Bhang thandai

* Media: Thandai

Thandai is a South Asian cold drink prepared with a mixture of almonds, fennel seeds, watermelon kernels, rose petals, pepper, poppy seeds, cardamom, saffron, milk and sugar. It is native to Indian Subcontinent. It is mainly used in summer. In Sikhism, it is often associated with the Holi or Holla mahalla festival. It is most commonly consumed in hot areas of North India Punjab and Pakistan (Southern Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan). There are variants of thandai and the most common are badam (almond) thandai and bhang (cannabis) thandai.

Thandai is a centerpiece of Holi celebrations where other snacks like dahi vada, gujiya and other savory snacks called chaat are served alongside the cold, sweet beverage.[1]

## Variations

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Though thandai refers to a traditional festival drink made with various spices and nuts, this versatile drink can also be prepared in many different ways.

Types of Thandai  Name  | Description

|

Thandai[2] | It is also known as badaam thandai, which is a traditional recipe of drink prepared with exotic nuts and spices.
Rose thandai[3] | This version of thandai is made with rose petals and rose essence.
Mango thandai[4] | This version of thandai with added mango puree makes a perfect summer cooler drink.
Badaam kesar thandai[5] | Made with badaam (almonds) and kesar (saffron), this drink is often consumed during hot summers.
Bhang thandai[6] | This variation is a cannabis-infused drink that includes bhang, a preparation of cannabis, and thus contains THC and other cannabinoids, causing an intoxicating effect when consumed. Whole milk is often used because its fat content, along with ground nuts', help dissolve the fat-soluble cannabinoids.

## References

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1. ^ "Thandai: An ancient cannabis drink for celebrating Holi". BBC. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
2. ^ "Recipe: Thandai". TipHero. Archived from the original on 2019-06-08. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
3. ^ "Recipe: Rose Thandai". The Times of India.
4. ^ "Recipe: Mango Thandai". Ranveer Brar.
5. ^ "Badam Kesar Thandai recipe by Shipra Khanna on Times Food". recipes.timesofindia.com. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
6. ^ Aggarwal, Madhuri. "Bhang Thandai Recipe". Archana's Kitchen. Retrieved 2023-06-03.