Thandai

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Synthesised from Google · Yelp · TripAdvisor · Reddit · 2 food blogs · Updated August 2026

The story the reviews tell

Thandai is a cold drink that tastes like summer itself — almonds and fennel seeds ground into milk sweetened with sugar, then perfumed with rose petals, saffron, and cardamom. Born in the heat of north India and Pakistan's Punjab, it exists to cool you down when the sun won't relent. During Holi, it arrives on tables alongside gujhia and dahi vada, a sweet, spiced counterpoint to the festival's chaos.

What makes this version distinct

Thandai (also spelt thanday) or sardai (also spelt sarday) is a cold drink from Indian subcontinent, prepared with a mixture of almonds, fennel seeds, watermelon kernels, rose petals, pepper, poppy seeds, cardamom, saffron, milk and sugar and mainly used in summer. In north Indian Hindu and Sikh culture, it is often associated with the Holi and Hola Mohalla festivals, respectively. It is most commonly consumed in hot areas of north India and Pakistan (especially in the Punjab region and Haryana). There are variants of thandai, the most common being badam (almonds) thandai and bhang (cannabis) thandai. Thandai is a centerpiece of Holi celebrations where other snacks like dahi vada, gujhia and other savory snacks called chaat are served alongside the cold, sweet beverage.

Signature elements