5 Minute Instant Thandai Recipe using Homemade Thandai Powder

This Instant 5 minute Instant Thandai recipe promises traditional taste with instant results! It uses a foolproof homemade Thandai powder, tested for the perfect balance of creaminess, spice, and sweetness. Our homemade Thandai powder lets you whip up a rich, refreshing Thandai in just 5 minutes—zero prep, 100% flavor! Just stir, sip, and enjoy!

Growing up, Holi wasn’t complete without a chilled glass of thandai! After hours of playing with colors, my cousins and I would gulp it down, laughing and drenched in hues. Even now, one sip brings back all those carefree, fun-filled memories!

Another summer essential that we enjoyed apart from Thandai during summer was Rose Milk. Cooling, refreshing and oh so good! A great alternative for someone who has nut allergies

Jump to:

• What is Thandai
• Why Ratios matter in a 5 minute Thandai recipe
• Ingredients
• Instructions to make Thandai Powder or Masala
• How to make Thandai using Homemade Thandai Powder
• Anvita's Top Tip
• Make-Ahead & Storage Tips
• Final Thoughts – Why This 5-Minute Version Works
• Related
• Pairing
• 5 minute Instant Thandai using Homemade Thandai Powder

What is Thandai

Thandai is a traditional Indian spiced milk drink, known for its cooling, aromatic, and nutty flavors. Traditional Thandai is made by blending milk with a mix of soaked nuts (like almonds, cashews and pistachios), seeds (melon seeds, poppy seeds), and spices (cardamom, fennel, black pepper, saffron, and rose petals or water). Sweet and refreshing, it’s especially popular during Holi and Maha Shivratri, as it helps beat the heat and provides an energy boost. Some versions even include bhang (cannabis leaves) for a festive kick! Whether enjoyed chilled on a hot day or as part of a summer celebration, Thandai is a delicious, creamy treat with a rich history.

Over the years, I’ve found that everyone loves a good Thandai, but the long prep—soaking nuts overnight and peeling almonds—can feel like a chore. While this process adds richness, there’s a faster way to get the same creamy, flavorful taste—using our 5-minute Thandai powder! Just mix, stir, and enjoy—no waiting required!

Why Ratios matter in a 5 minute Thandai recipe

Since we’re skipping soaking and grinding, the balance of nuts, seeds, and spices is key for instant flavors. While experimenting, I learned that the balance of ingredients is crucial. In my initial attempts, I sometimes overdid the peppercorns, resulting in a spicy drink that overshadowed the subtle flavors of other ingredients. Similarly, adding too many melon seeds made the drink too thick. Too much fennel can overpower other flavors, while too much sugar might make your drink too sweet.

I also realized the true color of Thandai is supposed to be off-white or beige, however the excessive amounts of saffron made it yellow, pistachios gave a pale green color and rose petals gave it a pinkish tinge.

After several attempts I finally mastered the right ratios.

Ingredients

Below is a gist of the ingredients required, the exact quantities are available in the recipe card.

• Almonds – Add richness and creaminess to the drink.
• Cashews – Contribute a smooth, velvety texture and a mild sweetness.
• Shelled Pistachios – Offer a subtle nutty flavor and vibrant color.
• Melon Seeds – Provide a light, refreshing crunch and mild flavor.
• Poppy Seeds – Add a soft crunch and a hint of nuttiness.
• Fennel Seeds – Bring a sweet, licorice-like aroma and a cooling effect.
• Green Cardamom Pods – Adds a fragrant, citrusy warmth to balance the spices.
• Black Peppercorns – Offer a subtle heat to enhance the spices and aid digestion.
• Cinnamon – Introduces a warming, sweet-spicy depth.
• Nutmeg – Brings a warm, nutty aroma that complements the other spices.
• Dried Rose Petals or Rose Petal Spread (Gulkand) – Adds a floral sweetness and refreshing fragrance to the drink.
• Saffron - Adds a rich golden hue, delicate floral aroma, and subtle earthy sweetness and a lot of depth to the flavor.
• Milk - for a rich flavor I used whole milk in this recipe, however you can use low-fat or a dairy alternative too.
• Sweetener - Use a sweetener of your choice like sugar, rock sugar, stevia, monk fruit.

Instructions to make Thandai Powder or Masala

Making Thandai masala at home is simpler than you think. This Thandai powder is unsweetened as it allows everyone to add their preferred sweetener. For example, when I make Thandai for Diabetics I add Monk Fruit instead of sugar. Some prefer lightly sweetened some more so keeping the powder unsweetened gives that flexibility to everyone.

• Powder the whole ingredients : To a dry grinder, add the almonds, pistachios, cashews, melon seeds, poppy seeds, fennel seeds, cardamom pods, black peppercorns, dried rose petals and pulse until you get a fine powder. Note: Don't overgrind or over pulse the mixture as you don't ant the nuts to release their oil.
• Mixing : Combine all ground batches in a bowl. Add saffron strands and cinnamon & nutmeg powder. Mix thoroughly.
• Storage: Store the Thandai powder in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week or refrigerate for up to six months.

How to make Thandai using Homemade Thandai Powder

• Making a paste: (Optional) If you prefer the texture of your Thandai to be smooth, then you can add a table spoon or two of Thandai powder in the blender with 1/4th cup of milk and blitz it into a paste. I personally skip this step because my family enjoys the crunch from the powdered nuts.
• Mixing:In a glass, combine the Thandai powder or paste along with you preferred choice of sweetner (monk fruit, sugar, agave, maple syrup) with a chilled milk.
• Chilling: For enhanced flavor, let the mixture sit for 30 minutes to allow the spices and nuts to infuse the milk.
• Serving: Stir the Thandai mixture, pour over ice cubes if desired, and garnish with crushed pistachios or rose petals. Serve chilled.

Make-Ahead & Storage Tips

Dry Mix: Store the Than powder in an airtight container for up to a month. This way, you can enjoy fresh Thandai any time—just stir a couple of teaspoons into milk when needed.

Chilling Tip: Blend the Thandai powder with cold milk to instantly infuse the flavors and keep the drink refreshing. If you prefer it colder, add ice cubes or chill the milk beforehand for an even more cooling effect.

Final Thoughts – Why This 5-Minute Version Works

It skips the long prep without sacrificing the traditional, rich flavor. The tested ratios ensure smooth, creamy, and perfectly balanced results every time. Plus, it's customizable—adjust the sweetness, spice, or nuttiness to suit your taste. Try it out and let me know your favorite variations in the comments!

Related

Looking for other drinks like this? Try these:

Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Thandai: