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How to make Thandai Concentrate I Thandai Syrup Recipe

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Thandai concentrate -A very healthy and nourishing summer cooler concentrate from North India,specially made on Holi Festival

Thandai concentrate – Thandai is a very famous drink of North India ,It is widely consumed in Western Uttar Pradesh,Gujarat and Rajasthan.Thandai is made with almonds,pistachio,melon seeds,poppy seeds,fennel and many other cooling spices.

Thandai has a very unique flavor that I believe,is not even remotely similar to any other refreshment drink around the world.This Thandai concentrate is especially made during festival of Holi and during other family celebration and weddings etc.

I have also posted a Kesariya thandai recipe before ,which is made and consumed fresh i.e dry fruits and spices are soaked and ground fresh before making the thandai .then mixed with chilled milk ,water or fruit juices.

During summer it is also used as a refreshing drink (sharbat) to cool the body and give freshness and energy as the spices added in this have a cooling effect on our body .

Fennel, poppy seeds ,cardamom ,melon seeds ,gulkand ,nuts have thandi taaseer /cooling effect according to ayurveda and give energy and strength to our body so its a very good refreshing and healthy drink to have during summers.

As making this cooler needs some time and pre-planning to soak and grind the ingredients. So I have made this thandai concentrate which you can make in large quantity and then store it easily .When ever you want to serve it just dilute it with chilled milk,water or any fruit juice of your choice.

Do try these healthy drink Recipes-

thandai concentrate syrup

 

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thandai
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4.67 from 6 votes

Kesar Badam Sharbat (Thandai Concentrate)

Thandai -A very healthy and refreshing summer cooler from Northern India
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Beverages /drinks, Home made, Kids Friendly
Cuisine: Uttar Pradesh Cuisine
Keyword: Festival, Holi, Thandai
Author: Anjana Chaturvedi

Ingredients

  • 750 gms Sugar / Chini
  • 125 gms Almonds / Badam
  • 75 gms Pistachio / Pista
  • 1/4 cup Melon Seeds / Magaz / Kharbooje Ke Beej
  • 3 tbsp Poppy seeds /khaskhas
  • 3 tbsp Gulkand/Rose petal preserve
  • 3 tbsp Peppercorns / Sabut Kali Mirch
  • 3 tbsp Fennel Seeds / Saunf
  • 15 Green Cardamom / Hari Elaichi
  • 1/3 tsp Saffron / Kesar
  • 3 tbsp Rose Water / Gulab Jal
  • pinch of Citric Acid/nimbu phool/taatri

Instructions

  • Soak almond and pistachio over night and peel the skin in the morning.
  • Soak poppy seeds and melon seeds for about 2 hours in little water.
  • Soak fennel seeds, cardamom and pepper corns in some water for 2 hours.
  • Grind together almonds ,pistachio,poppy seeds and melon seeds with some water and make a fine paste.now add the gulkand and grind again.
  • In a pan add sugar and a glass of water and cook on medium heat to make a sugar syrup of 1+ 1/2 thread consistency.
  • Add 2 tsp of milk in the boiling syrup to remove the scum floating on top.
  • Now add citric acid and mix then remove it from the gas and let it come to room temperature.
  • Add the ground almond paste in the sugar syrup and mix well.
  • Grind the fennel seeds ,cardamom and pepper corn with water and make a fine paste.
  • Add the fennel paste and the soaked saffron in the sugar syrup and mix .
  • Now just give a boil to the sugar syrup after mixing all the ingredients in it.
  • Now strain the hot syrup with a muslin cloth or a strainer and then let it come to room temperature.
  • Now add rose water and sodium benzoate (if using)and fill it in the glass bottles and keep refrigerated.
  • How to serve- Take about 3-4 tbsps of thandai concentrate in a serving glass add some chilled milk/water/juice and some ice cubes ,mix and serve.

Notes

NOTE and Tips-
  1. You can adjust the quantity and ratio of dry fruits according to your preference ,can reduce the quantity of almonds and pista and increase the quantity of melon seeds.
  2. Can use cashew nuts instead of pistachio.
  3. The approx ratio of dry fruit paste and sugar is 1:3 i.e for 1 cup of dry fruit paste use 3 cups of sugar.
  4. You can adjust the quantity of pepper corns according to your tatse ,specially if you are making this for your kids,though traditionaaly thandai have a strong taste of pepper corns.
  5. If you don't have gulkand then can add fresh rose petals or just increase the quantity of rose water.
  6. If you want to make thandai concentrate in large quantity and want to store it at room temperature then do add some food preservative for long shelf life (sodium benzoate)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Neeta

    4 stars
    Hi Explained in clear, simple terms…very informative & amazing recipe. When should I add sodium benzoate in it? Pls revert. Thanks..

  2. Kumar Aditya

    5 stars
    For how much time will the concentrate be preserved
    With and without adding preservatives.

    • anjanaskc

      It can easily be stored for 2 months in the refrigerator without any preservative ,If you add preservative then can store for 6 months

    • anjanaskc

      The syrup will be slightly sticky to touch,take a syrup drop between your finger and thumb and just pull both apart slightly ,see there should be a syrup thread between the finger and thumb

    • Neeta

      4 stars
      Hi Explained in clear, simple terms…very informative & amazing recipe. When should I add sodium benzoate in it? Pls revert. Thanks..

  4. Radhika

    Hi Mam, this is such a wonderful recipe. I love the pics and I intend to make this sharbat. Is there any substitute for citric acid .

    • anjanaskc

      Hi Radhika
      You can use lemon juice instead of citric acid . Enjoy 🙂

  10. Maayeka

    @Pallavi I have never tried adding brown sugar so not sure about how It will taste with brown sugar:)

  11. Pallavi

    anjana ji can we use brown sugar instead of white sugar?

  12. Maayeka

    @Pallavi-Thanks Pallavi for pointing it out..grind melon seeds with almonds and pista.I have updated the post now.

  13. Pallavi

    Anjana ji at what stage do we have to crush melon seeds?……… seems it was missed out in recipe directions

  24. Kavita

    Truly refreshing and totally agree with you on the uniqeness of flavors in Thandai..i can't think of anything even close to!

  28. simran

    wonderful….i always wanted to make this!!!!!!!!we keep buying haldirams….now i'll make it at home.thanks

4.67 from 6 votes (3 ratings without comment)