Thandai Masala

Because it is 31 degrees and air con is not my best friend, a natural cooler is an absolute must. Long before colas and brightly coloured drinks adulterated our lives, Thandai Masala – the drink of the Gods, soothed parched throats during the infamous summer of the Indian subcontinent.

Mixed with creamy milk and a dash of sugar or honey, this mixture of almonds, fennel seeds, poppy seeds, mixed melon seeds, pepper, cardamom, saffron, and rose petals, thandai is more than just a cooler. While the nuts are an instant energy source and reservoir of good fats, the saffron, and rose petals act as instant coolers, and the black pepper aids digestion and prevents the body from cooling off a tad too much.

It is hard to say in which part of ancient history this drink was first sipped but it is fascinating how so much thought went into putting this together.

It is one of the many examples of the science behind Indian food and culture. And yet we look the other way when it comes to appreciating all-encompassing goodness of Indian cuisine. I look forward to the day when Indian cuisine will get its due in the health industry and amongst the fit and healthy. On that note, here is the recipe for this delicious power protein mix/cooler, packed with chill and masala.

For best results, I recommend preparing a small batch of thandai masala, refrigerating, and consuming within two weeks. It is incredibly easy to prepare and takes less than five minutes 🙂 Cheers!

[kkstarratings]