Thandai - Refreshing Holi Drink

Serves 3-4

Prep Time

10 mins

Total Time

12 mins

Difficulty Easy

Recipe by Jonali Everyday Cook!

Rooted in Shillong’s farming traditions, Jonali shares the fresh, soulful spices she grew up with — cook her recipes and experience true authenticity.

About This Dish

Thandai is a traditional Holi drink, bursting with the richness of almonds, poppy seeds, fennel, and melon seeds, blended into creamy milk and infused with fragrant cardamom, golden Lakadong turmeric, and premium Pampore saffron.

Ingredients

2 cups milk (or plant-based alternative)
10 almonds, soaked & peeled
1 tbsp poppy seeds
1 tbsp fennel seeds
1 tbsp melon seeds (optional)
½ tsp LivingRoots Coorg Cardamom powder
3-4 strands LivingRoots Pampore Saffron (soaked in warm milk)
2 tbsp sugar or honey (if you like it sweet)
½ tsp LivingRoots Lakadong Turmeric (for a golden glow & health boost)
Rose petals for garnish (optional)

This recipe features

Pampore Saffron

Spices

$15.00

Lakadong Turmeric

Spices

$11.00

Instructions

Blend almonds, poppy seeds, fennel, and melon seeds into a fine paste.
Boil the milk and add the paste, Coorg cardamom, and Pampore saffron -infused milk.
Stir well.
Sweeten with sugar or honey
Mix in Lakadong Turmeric, and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
Chill before serving and garnish with rose petals!

Why Our Spices Make a Difference

Every spice in this recipe comes from a farmer we know by name. Lab-tested for purity, harvested at peak season, and shipped within weeks, unlike the years it takes for grocery stores to stock their spices. Meet our farmers

✓ Lab Tested ✓ Direct Trade ✓ Single Origin

Published March 14, 2025 Updated December 13, 2025